Rajnath Fire at Congress for 'Religion-based Quota' in the Manifesto

Defence Minister Sounds off the Alarm on the Divisive Agenda, Mentions the Previous Sachar Panel's Proposal with the Muslim Headcount in the Forces.

VISAKHAPATNAM, April 24, 2024: Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh has accused the Congress party of nursing a "lethal scheme" that is aimed at splitting government institutions like the armed forces into religious entities with its election manifesto released for the 2024 Lok Sabha.

A public rally addressed by the Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, in Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), highlighted the danger of the Congress aiming to introduce religion-based reservation in government jobs. This could later involve the armed forces.

"The 2013 manifesto of the great old party alluded to the possibility of reservations in government jobs for the religious minorities. It is difficult to know how far such a plan would go, but it may include the Armed Forces. This is an idea that may destroy the unity of the nation. May this not be a very shocking situation for the nation?" Singh inquired.

The Defence Minister's comments rekindled the memory of the Sachar Committee report of 2006, compiled during the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government of which Congress was the party in power, which had recommended the number of Muslims serving in the Indian army. Singh repudiated this as "the initial time in independent India's history where the attempt was so made to separate the forces of religion from each other".

We had been in the opposition, and vehemently opposed this move as well. "But in my opinion, this is the actual face of the Congress"- he said.

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Rajnath Singh pointed out that Congress's ultimate goal was to weaken the Armed Forces and institutions like police force by adding a religious labels to them. However, the issue is that whatever the Congress has given in their manifesto in the name of the "minority welfare" is in response to the recommendations provided by the Sachar Committee.

The statement of the BJP leader, though vicious, is accompanied by the offensive of the ruling party against the Congress on the basis of its manifesto assurances which it tends to shirk in the wake of approaching the parliamentary elections.

The Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh will be on with the Parliamentary polls to be held on May 13. Singh addressed the public that they should vote for the alliance of NDA candidates to avoid national division and to have unity and integrity.