Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently made a statement during the release of the BJP’s manifesto for the Maharashtra assembly elections. He expressed concerns about the Congress party’s alleged intention to cut the reservation quotas for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and other backward classes in order to allocate them to Muslims. Shah emphasized that there is no provision for reservation based on religion in the Constitution drafted by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Shah referred to reports stating that a delegation of Muslim clerics had submitted a letter outlining various demands for the Muslim community, including the approval of Muslim reservation. He claimed that Congress leader Nana Patole had acknowledged these demands, raising questions about the acceptability of such actions in Maharashtra.
Furthermore, Shah criticized Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for breaking the alliance with the BJP in 2019 for the post of chief minister. He highlighted the contradictions within Thackeray’s alliance with Congress-NCP (SP), pointing out their opposition to key issues such as the cancellation of Article 370, insults to Veer Savarkar, and the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
In addition to questioning the contributions of NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar, Shah outlined the Mahayuti government’s goal of boosting the Maharashtra economy to one trillion dollars by 2028. When asked about the potential chief minister if Mahayuti secures power again, Shah mentioned Eknath Shinde as the current chief minister and stated that the decision would be made collectively by the parties within Mahayuti after the elections.
The BJP leader also mentioned plans to form a committee to address religious conversions and criticized the alliance between Uddhav Thackeray and Congress-NCP (SP). He questioned the actions of these parties regarding various contentious issues and highlighted the need for a cohesive and focused government to address the needs of Maharashtra effectively.
During the manifesto release event, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, State BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, and National General Secretary Vinod Tawade were also present. The event showcased the party’s vision and plans for the future of Maharashtra, emphasizing the importance of good governance and inclusive policies for all communities in the state.
