1. During a rally in Siwan, Bihar, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma opposed reservations for Muslims.
2. Sarma’s comments were in response to politicians advocating for religion-based reservations.
3. His remarks sparked a heated debate on the issue.
Guwahati, May 18: During a public rally in Siwan, Bihar, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made emphatic remarks opposing the idea of providing reservations to Muslims in India.
Sarma’s statements came in response to suggestions from some politicians advocating for reservations based on religion, sparking a heated debate on the issue.
In his address, Sarma said, “If you want to give reservations to Muslims, then go to Pakistan and give reservations there. It will never happen in India.”
This comment was aimed at underscoring his firm stance against religious-based reservations, which he believes contradict the principles laid out in the Indian Constitution.
Sarma emphasized the constitutional provisions for reservations, saying, “Babasaheb Ambedkar gave us the Constitution. In the Constitution, it is mentioned that Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) should get the reservations.”
His assertion highlights that the Indian Constitution specifically designates these categories for affirmative action policies, without including religion as a criterion for reservation.
The Assam Chief Minister criticized specific instances where reservations for Muslims were implemented, pointing to Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh as examples.
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He alleged that such measures were executed at the expense of other backward classes, thus creating a sense of injustice among those who were originally intended to benefit from reservations.
“In Karnataka, the decision to grant reservations to Muslims was made after robbing the reservations of backward classes,” Sarma stated, expressing his disapproval of the policy shifts in these states.
Sarma’s remarks reflect broader concerns among some political factions in India regarding the allocation of reservations based on religious identity.
They argue that such policies could undermine the merit-based and constitutionally mandated framework for reservations.
Sarma’s reference to Pakistan was likely intended to draw a sharp distinction between India’s secular policies and the religious-based governance of its neighbor, emphasizing his view that India should not adopt similar measures.
The rally in Siwan saw Sarma articulating his vision for maintaining the integrity of India’s reservation system as defined by the Constitution. His comments are part of a larger narrative within Indian politics, where the debate over reservations and affirmative action continues to be a contentious issue.
The mention of Babasaheb Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, underscores the reliance on constitutional principles in framing policies related to social justice and affirmative action.
Sarma’s speech in Bihar is expected to resonate with a segment of the electorate that supports maintaining the current reservation framework.
It also reflects the ongoing political strategy of using reservations as a significant talking point in public discourse, especially in the context of upcoming elections.
As this debate unfolds, it is likely to provoke further discussion on how best to balance the needs for social equity and constitutional adherence in India’s diverse society.
