Dalit protests: BJP will neither withdraw reservations, nor allow anyone to do so, says Amit Shah

BJP chief Amit Shah on Wednesday clarified that the central government would neither scrap the policy of reservation for SC and ST communities in education and jobs.

Bhawanipatna: Amid protests by Dalits groups, BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday clarified that the central government would neither scrap the policy of reservation for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in education and jobs nor allow anyone to do so.

Addressing a public meeting in Odisha's Bhawanipatna, he said that "no one can dare to change" the reservation policy "as set by BR Ambedkar in the Constitution".

Shah also held the Congress and other Opposition parties responsible for the violence during a nationwide bandh called by various Dalit outfits against Supreme Court's order on SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

"Why was the bandh call given when the Prime Minister assured the people that the Centre would submit a review petition on the Supreme Court judgement. The Congress and other Opposition parties are responsible for the deaths of people," he said.

Alleging that a "misinformation campaign" had been launched in the media and on social media that the BJP would withdraw reservations, Shah maintained, "I want to make it clear in this public meeting in the presence of so many people that the BJP will not withdraw reservations at all, nor will it allow anyone to do so," as per PTI.

Further, quoting PM Narendra Modi, he said, "We have full faith in the Constitution of India. There will not be the slightest change in the reservation policy as set by BR Ambedkar in the Constitution. No one can dare to change it. The BJP will also not allow anyone to change the reservation policy." 

On Tuesday too, the BJP chief had tweeted:

Normal life was thrown out of gear on Monday in more than ten states with widespread violence during the protests called by Dalit organisations with poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan bearing the maximum brunt.

The Centre on Tuesday had moved a plea in the apex court seeking to review the March 20 order. The SC had, however, asserted that "no provisions of the SC/ST Act have been diluted" and had refused to keep in abeyance the verdict.

(With PTI inputs)