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Addressing reporters in Bengaluru on Monday, Shivakumar strongly refuted the allegations and accused the BJP of working a false propaganda marketing campaign towards him. “I’ve by no means mentioned that I’ll change the Structure. The BJP is intentionally twisting my phrases and spreading false propaganda. I’ll take authorized motion towards this,” he mentioned.
Shivakumar additionally mentioned that his phrases had been intentionally distorted. “I by no means mentioned we’re going to change the Structure. I solely talked about that there have been cases the place constitutional amendments had been made based mostly on courtroom judgments. The BJP has twisted my phrases and is deceptive the general public,” he asserted.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The controversy erupted after a video, displaying Shivakumar talking at an occasion, was shared by BJP nationwide spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla. Within the clip, Shivakumar is heard discussing the problem of reservations and stating that “ day will come, a variety of modifications will likely be there the Structure will likely be altering.” BJP leaders seized upon this comment, alleging that the Congress is plotting to change the Structure to grant religion-based reservations, particularly for Muslims.
BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya claimed that Shivakumar’s feedback uncovered Congress’s long-standing inclination in direction of religion-based insurance policies and questioned Rahul Gandhi’s silence on the problem. He accused the Congress, of prioritising “appeasement over nationwide curiosity.”
Malviya alleged that Congress had traditionally favoured Muslims, even throughout the Partition (of India), and continued to take action in modern-day governance. “The Congress has at all times prioritised appeasement. They didn’t hesitate to partition the nation on spiritual traces, and even after that, ensured that Muslims stayed again. There could possibly be no higher betrayal,” he mentioned.
He additional accused Congress of discriminating towards Hindus. “Congress has by no means been truthful to Hindus—and it by no means will likely be,” Malviya asserted, claiming that the get together’s insurance policies had been pushed by a mindset of non secular favouritism.
SHIVAKUMAR CALLS BJP ‘MASTERS OF FAKE NEWS’
Responding to BJP chief Amit Malviya’s criticism, Shivakumar fired again: “He’s a political determine who’s deceptive your complete nation. The BJP has at all times tried to guide the nation astray. Allow them to present me the place I mentioned I might change the Structure. The BJP is partaking in low-cost politics. In the event that they don’t take the names of me, Sonia Gandhi’s household, or the Congress get together, they gained’t be capable to sleep at evening.”
He additional accused the BJP of persistently spreading falsehoods. “Spreading pretend and false information is precisely what the BJP does. They’re masters at it,” he remarked.
When requested whether or not the media had misreported his assertion, Shivakumar clarified: “No, the media shouldn’t be at fault. The BJP twisted my phrases and unnecessarily dragged my title into this.”
The Deputy Chief Minister additionally accused the BJP of making a diversion to cowl up its failures. “The central authorities failed in its funds. Because the funds had nothing substantial, the BJP is making an attempt to distract individuals with baseless points. That is half of a bigger political conspiracy towards me and the Congress get together,” he mentioned.
BJP DEMANDS EXPLANATION, CONGRESS PUSHES BACK
The remarks triggered a heated debate within the Rajya Sabha, with BJP leaders demanding Shivakumar’s resignation. BJP Celebration president JP Nadda accused Congress of making an attempt to “tear aside” the Structure whereas citing Dr BR Ambedkar’s place that reservations shouldn’t be based mostly on faith.
BJP MP Kiren Rijiju echoed this sentiment, calling Shivakumar’s alleged assertion an “assault on the Structure” and demanding that Congress make clear its stance. “A really senior Congress chief, who holds a constitutional publish, has acknowledged that they’re going to change the Structure of India to offer reservations in contracts for Muslims. We can not take this assertion flippantly,” Rijiju mentioned, urging fast motion.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi went additional, accusing the Congress of traditionally disrespecting each the Structure and Ambedkar. “I’m not shocked. The Congress has by no means revered Ambedkar or the Structure. They insulted him throughout his lifetime. Indira Gandhi bulldozed the Structure, Rajiv Gandhi undermined it throughout the Shah Bano case, and now DK Shivakumar is doing the identical,” Joshi mentioned.
In the meantime, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stepped in to defend his get together, stating that nobody can alter the Structure and that Congress has at all times fought to guard it. “No person can change the Structure drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar. No person can eradicate reservation. To guard it, we did the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The BJP, then again, is making an attempt to divide India,” Kharge mentioned.
THE RESERVATION DEBATE IN KARNATAKA
The controversy comes amid the Karnataka authorities’s current resolution to offer a 4 p.c reservation in public tenders to minority contractors. The transfer, authorised in a state cupboard assembly led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on March 14, has been a flashpoint between the Congress and the BJP, with the latter arguing that it goes towards constitutional provisions.
Shivakumar defended the coverage, stating that it was based mostly on suggestions from the state’s backward courses fee. “The 4 p.c reservation for Muslims relies on the state’s backward class fee report. In states like Maharashtra and Haryana, the problem of reservation has been taken to the courts. Based mostly on these courtroom rulings, some amendments had been made to permit it,” he defined.
BJP chief Sambit Patra, nonetheless, dismissed this argument, claiming that Congress has at all times harboured an agenda of granting spiritual reservations. He in contrast the get together’s stance to Jawaharlal Nehru’s position within the partition of India, stating, “In the event that they don’t point out the Gandhi household’s title, they gained’t get sleep. That is nothing however insanity and foolishness. It’s a part of a political conspiracy towards the Congress get together and me.”
SHIVAKUMAR THREATENS LEGAL ACTION
Shivakumar has now indicated that he’ll take authorized motion towards these distorting his remarks. “If the assertion had been made inside Parliament, taking authorized motion can be tough. Because it was made outdoors, I’ll think about the authorized choices,” he mentioned.
He additionally accused the BJP of intentionally manufacturing an issue for political achieve. “We’re those who gave this nation its Structure. Defending it’s our proper. The BJP is elevating such false points solely to cowl up their very own failures,” he mentioned.
The BJP, nonetheless, stays relentless in its calls for for accountability. Nadda reiterated that the Congress should take a transparent stand on whether or not it helps religion-based reservations and whether or not it intends to amend the Structure. “The Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka has mentioned that if wanted, they’ll change the Structure. That is unacceptable. The Congress management should reply,” he mentioned.
