Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday accused the Indian Union of playing “vote politics” and accused the Opposition of ignoring the constitutional rights of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC).In an interview with ANI, Modi discussed a range of issues including reservation, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and raids by central agencies.
‘I will fight for Dalit rights,’ says PM Modi on reservation issue
Speaking about the importance of protecting the interests of these communities, PM Modi said, “I want to warn the people of SC, ST, OBC and other backward classes because by leaving them (opposition parties) in the dark, they are looting from them. Elections are at the apex and the people should be made aware that the greatest crisis is upon them.”
Also read: “…How did Narendra Modi become an OBC?”: Rahul Gandhi slams PM on reservation issue, again calls for caste census
The Prime Minister further pointed out that the fundamental spirit of the Indian Constitution was also being violated in the interest of vote-grabbing politics. “Those who call themselves supporters of Dalits and tribals are in fact their staunch enemies… Their manifestos have the stamp of the Muslim League… Do you want to destroy the next generation also for the sake of vote-grabbing?… I will fight for the rights of my Dalit, tribal and OBC brothers and sisters. That is why I am fighting,” he said. Ani.
The Prime Minister said that those who claim to be the biggest sympathizers of backward communities are actually their “biggest enemies”. On the Opposition’s claim that PM Modi will abolish reservations, the Prime Minister said, “They have committed this sin. I am against it. So they are using this to lie.”
Calcutta High Court revokes all OBC certificates in West Bengal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed the Calcutta High Court’s decision to cancel all OBC certificates issued in West Bengal since 2010 as a “modus operandi”.
“First, they committed the crime of enacting a law in Andhra Pradesh to give rights to minorities, then they lost the case in the Supreme Court and the High Court also struck it down as it was unconstitutional. So, they started their game through the back door and overnight made all Muslim castes OBC and took away their rights…When the High Court verdict came, it became clear that such a big fraud had been played. But what is even more unfortunate is that, for vote politics, they are now misusing the judiciary as well…This situation is not acceptable under any circumstances,” PM Modi said.
“I GaariPM Modi says he has “evidence” of personal attacks during election campaign
Asked about personal attacks during the election campaign, PM Modi said: Ani“As for Modi, the continuous mistreatment he endured over the last 24 years has made me ‘garri-proof’.
PM Modi said, “Who am I?”Unforgettable‘ and ‘Gandhi naari ka keeda“? Our party, which is a member of parliament, calculated that the number of cases of abuse was 101. So, with or without elections, these people (opposition parties) believe that only they have the right to abuse, and they are so frustrated that abuse has now become part of their nature…”
PM Modi on Opposition allegations regarding ED and CBI investigations
Speaking on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s assertion that it is the Prime Minister who decides who goes to jail, PM Modi said these people would be better off reading the Constitution. “Read the law of the land. I don’t need to say anything to anyone.”
Also read: Arvind Kejriwal arrest news: Report says 95% of ED cases against Opposition leaders since 2014
While the Opposition alleges that the ED, CBI and IT are being used to suppress them, PM Modi said, “Ask those who are dumping this garbage what is the proof of what you are saying. I will turn this garbage into fertiliser and create something good out of it for the country. When Manmohan Singh was in power for 10 years, ₹34 lakh crore was seized. In the last 10 years, the ED ₹2,200 crore has been recovered. ₹The Rs 22 billion paid to the state should be respected and not misused. Those who have lost the money are misusing it… I mean, those who have stolen the money will get a little shouting after they are caught.”
“Currently, a sarpanch (village head) has the right to sign cheque books but the country’s chief minister does not. The Modi government has told officials there will be zero tolerance towards corruption,” he said.
More notably, the ED, which operates under the Indian government’s Revenue Department, has filed 95% of the cases against opposition leaders since 2014. Indian Express.
High voter turnout in Kashmir
Commenting on the high voter turnout in Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “First of all, I pray to our judicial system that if the government wants to work on something, it has a plan and strategy to work on it. To solve these problems, it has to be based on that strategy. There were times when we had to shut down the internet for that. An NGO filed a case and it became a big issue in court, but today the children there are proudly saying that there has been no internet shutdown for the last five years and they have had all the facilities for the last five years. It was painful for a few days but it was for a good cause.”
“It is very important that the country is protected from such NGOs. Secondly, common man votes not just to make someone win but by casting his vote he signifies his acceptance of the Constitution of India and his commitment to the Indian ethos as a whole,” the Prime Minister added.
“Article 370 was an issue for only four to five households,” says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the decision to revoke Article 370 was “an agenda of just four-five families”. He further stressed that Article 370 was “not an agenda of the people of Kashmir or the people of the country”.
“They built 370 walls for their own gain and had said that if 370 was removed there would be fire. Today, the truth is that after 370 was removed, there is more unity. There is a growing sense of belonging among the people of Kashmir and the direct result of this is visible in elections and tourism as well,” PM Modi said.
Odisha Assembly Elections
PM Modi said Odisha’s fortunes were changing. “I have said that the term of the present Odisha government will end on June 4. And on June 10, a BJP chief minister will take oath in Odisha,” PM Modi said.
He further said, “In the last 25 years, there has been no progress in Odisha and my biggest concern is that there is a group that has hijacked the entire system in Odisha. It seems the entire system is being held hostage. Once Odisha comes out of this bondage, Odisha will prosper. This is an issue for Asmita of Odisha. Odisha is rich in natural resources and it is sad that such a prosperous state has poor people. Odisha is one of the prosperous states in India, rich in natural resources. It is also one of the poor states in India. So, the government has this responsibility and the people of Odisha should get their rights.”
“TMC is fighting for survival in Bengal,” PM Modi says
Slamming the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, PM Modi said the “TMC party is fighting for its survival in the Bengal elections.”
Prime Minister Modi Ani“In the last state assembly elections, we had three seats but the people of Bengal have taken us to 80 seats. In the last Lok Sabha elections, we won a landslide majority. This time, the best performing state in India will be West Bengal. The BJP has had its greatest success in West Bengal. Elections in West Bengal are one-sided. People are leading and that is why those sitting in the government, TMC people, are unhappy… BJP activists are being put in jail before the elections. Despite these atrocities, more people are voting and the vote count is increasing.”
Also read: Tejashwi Yadav, TMC and other Opposition leaders slam PM Modi for ‘Mujra’ remarks: ‘Take him to doctor’
India’s six-phase Lok Sabha elections have been completed, with the final phase taking place on June 1 in 57 constituencies across eight states and union territories. Results will be announced on June 4.
(With inputs from ANI)
You are on Mint! India’s No.1 News Site (Source: Press Gazette). For more of our business coverage and market insights, click here!
