Addressing the crowd, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted, “Congress kept sitting on the report of Mandal Commission and suppressed it. Rajiv Gandhi was against the implementation of its recommendations. For 70 years, the Backward Commission was not a constitutional body, and it was the Modi government that elevated it to the status of a constitutional body.”
Shah highlighted the role of the Modi government in acknowledging and empowering the Backward Commission, suggesting that the move was a departure from the historical neglect of the backward communities.
The Mandal Commission, formed in the 1970s, aimed to address the social and economic disparities faced by marginalised communities, recommending affirmative action policies to uplift these sections of society. Shah’s remarks seek to underscore a divergence in the historical stance of the Congress party and the transformative steps taken by the current government.
Shah stated, “We have 27 ministers at the Centre who are from the OBC community. Stating that the BJP is consistently working for the rapid development of the OBC community, Shah said,” Reservations for the backward community have been put in place effectively by the Modi government at Sainik schools, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Navodya schools.”
In 1978, former Prime Minister Morarji Desai of the Janata Party announced the constitution of a second Backward Classes Commission under chairman BP Mandal to identify the socially or educationally backward classes” of India. The panel submitted its report in 1980. Later in the year 1990, former Prime Minister VP Singh announced the recommendations of the Mandal Commission would be implemented further ensuring that 27 per cent of the jobs in Central government and Public sector units would be reserved for backward classes.
Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked on Wednesday why Prime Minister Narendra Modi identifies himself as an Other Backward Class (OBC) when the PM considers ‘poor’ as the only caste in India. “PM Modi says in every speech, ‘I am OBC’. But when I talk about the caste census, they say there is no caste in India. There is only one caste in India: ‘Garib’. Modi ji, if ‘poor’ is the only caste in the country, then why do you call yourself OBC?” Rahul Gandhi said.
Madhya Pradesh is set to undergo polls in one phase on November 17 and the counting of votes will take place on December 3. Voters will choose legislators from 230 Assembly constituencies.
