India's Home Minister Amit Shah targeted opposition parties during the BJP's OBC Conference held on Tuesday. He branded Congress as a party against the interests of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and criticized its contributions to Haryana as nothing but corruption and nepotism.
While addressing the OBC conference in Mahendragarh, Shah declared that the OBC community has consistently blessed the BJP with their support. It is now the duty of the BJP to return to this community even more than it has received, reinforcing the party's commitment toward ensuring the welfare of backward classes.
Shah reminisced about 2014, recalling Prime Minister Modi's first steps into parliament when he proclaimed his government's dedication to the welfare of Dalits and the impoverished. He highlighted the BJP's milestone of providing the country with its first strong OBC Prime Minister. Shah also cited the current cabinet composition, where out of 71 ministers, 27 hail from the OBC community, including two from Haryana, showcasing the party's respect and representation for the OBCs.
Further challenging the former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Shah brought attention to Congress' pattern of opportunistic support to the OBCs during elections, while alleging that the party has actually been opposed to the cause. He reminded the public of Congress' history of delaying the implementation of the Kaka Kalelkar Commission since 1957 and of stalling the Mandal Commission's recommendations under Indira Gandhi's regime in 1980. Shah proudly claimed that the BJP granted constitutional recognition to the OBC Commission, empowering them with constitutional rights.
Congress Accused of Fueling Nepotism
Shah accused the Congress of promoting nepotism and corruption, contrasting it with the BJP's commitment to inclusive development in Haryana. He boasted of appointing a son of the OBC community as the Chief Minister of Haryana, promising progress under his leadership. Shah challenged the Congress to account for its history of family politics and reaffirmed his personal dedication to financial accountability.
In a pointed statement regarding Karnataka, Shah accused Congress of reallocating OBC reservations to Muslims, warning that this could potentially happen in Haryana if Congress came to power. He assured that the BJP would prevent the implementation of Muslim reservations in Haryana and confidently stated the party's prospects for obtaining full majority in the upcoming elections.
Haryana: A Land of Soldiers, Sportspersons, and Farmers
Shah paid tribute to Haryana, noting three reasons why the nation holds the state in high regard: the valor of its mothers who have sent numerous sons to the armed forces, the state's outstanding medal contributions in sports, and Haryana's crucial role in achieving India's agricultural self-sufficiency. He celebrated Haryana's farmers for helping fill the nation's granaries when self-production of food became imperative.
Concluding his address, Shah credited Prime Minister Modi for the 27% reservation provided to the OBC community in Central universities, Navodaya schools, Sainik schools, and medical entrance exams, while also increasing the creamy layer income threshold.
