Union Home Minister Amit Shah affirmed the BJP's support for reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) on Monday. He accused the Congress of spreading false information through a doctored video and reiterated that the BJP would always safeguard reservations.
"Congress is spreading misinformation that the BJP will end reservations after crossing 400 seats. These claims are baseless and unfounded... I want to make it clear that the BJP supports reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs and will always play its role as a protector," Shah stated during a press conference in Guwahati.
Recently, a manipulated video featuring the Home Minister circulated widely on social media, falsely portraying him as advocating for the termination of reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs. Shah condemned the dissemination of this video by Congress officials and emphasized that such actions reveal their frustration and despair.
An FIR was filed in response to a complaint about the edited video. The BJP clarified that the footage was extracted from a 2023 speech in Telangana, where Shah criticized the 4 percent "unconstitutional" reservation for Muslims in the state.
"Since Rahul Gandhi assumed leadership of the Congress, they have consistently stooped to new lows in politics... Attempting to gain public support through the circulation of fake videos is deplorable and should never be practiced by any major political party in India," Shah asserted.
Addressing the delay in finalizing the candidature of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi from Amethi and Raebareli, Shah suggested it reflects their "lack of self-confidence." He commented on the situation in Uttar Pradesh, implying that they have abandoned their traditional strongholds.
Responding to Shah's remarks, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP of expertise in producing defamatory videos via social media. Kharge emphasized the Congress's commitment to maintaining national unity and urged against hate speech, particularly from Prime Minister Modi during elections.
