PM Modi capitalised on this opportunity to criticise the RJD chief, calling him as a "fodder scam accused".Former Bihar Chief Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav ignited controversy when he advocated for “poora” (complete) reservation for Muslims, drawing criticism from Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as his former ally JDU.
Addressing the media in Patna, Yadav alleged that the ruling BJP aimed to abolish reservations by dismantling the Constitution.
“Reservation toh milna chahiye Musalmano ko, poora… They (BJP) want to finish off the Constitution and democracy of the country,” the RJD supremo said.
As his remarks triggered a massive political storm, the RJD patriarch put out a video message clarifying that the basis of reservation should not be religion but social backwardness.
“We implemented the Mandal Commission recommendations. Has Narendra Modi ever read them? The Mandal Commission recommendations provide reservations for more than 3,500 backward castes, including many from other religions.”
Referring to the BJP, the former Bihar CM added, “They are not a bigger and truer OBC than me. They do not understand the poor, the backward and Dalits more than me. They only make them fight.”
The former Bihar CM’s observations added a layer to the reservation debate, which has become a focal point of heated discussions between the BJP and the Congress during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
Seizing upon Lalu Yadav’s comments, the BJP accused the Opposition of not being able to see “beyond appeasement”. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while campaigning in Madhya Pradesh, capitalised on this opportunity to criticise the RJD chief, calling him as a “fodder scam accused”.
“They (Opposition) can’t see beyond appeasement. If it comes to themselves, they will even take your breathing rights away,” PM Modi said.
“A fodder scam accused leader who is out on bail is advocating reservations for Muslims. He (Lalu Prasad) says reservations should be given to Muslims, and that means whatever reservation SCs/STs and OBCs have, they want to give it Muslims,” the Prime Minister said.
Nitish Kumar’s JDU, which exited RJD-led Mahagathbandhan to go back to BJP, JD(U) also criticised Yadav saying that his stance violated both the fundamental principles of the Constitution and the recommendations of the Mandal Commission report.
Established in 1979, the Mandal Commission was tasked with identifying socially or educationally backward classes in the nation. Lalu Yadav was actively involved in advocating for the implementation of the Mandal Commission report, which proposed reservations for socially and educationally disadvantaged segments among both Hindus and Muslims.
Tyagi said that religion should never serve as a criterion for determining eligibility for quota benefits.
“Such a statement is tantamount to a conspiracy against the backwards who get reservations due to their social and educational backwardness,” Tyagi told reporters.