Modi alleges grand alliance plot to take away 5 % SC, ST, OBC quotas

Under attack over alleged attempts at tinkering with quotas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today accused the Bihar's grand alliance of plotting to take away five per cent share in reservations for SC, ST and OBCs and give it to "a particular community", a move he vowed to oppose.

"The leaders of this 'Mahaswarth' (opportunistic) alliance are trying to mislead the people on the issue of reservation ... It is clear through the discussion of our Constitution makers that reservation cannot be given on the basis of religion. The Supreme Court has said reservation cannot be more than 50 per cent. There is a cap.

"These leaders are making a devious plan. They are conspiring to take away 5 per cent reservation of dalits, mahadalits, backwards and extremely backwards and give it to a particular community. I come from an extremely backward classe and understand the pain of having been born to a poor woman. I will not allow this to happen. I pledge to protect the rights of dalits, mahadalits and backwards," he said addressing an election rally in Buxar.
Modi attacked the grand alliance leaders Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad and Sonia Gandhi for trying to "mislead" the people on the issue of reservation.

If the anti-BJP alliance is voted to power 'Jungle raj' will return and crimes like kidnappings and atrocities on women will rise, he warned.

Modi also attacked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad for not acting against the corrupt and cited recent examples where their MLAs and candidates were allegedly found taking bribe and "fixing deals".

Modi said, "Nobody will be allowed to take away the rights of dalits, mahadalits and backwards and give it to any other community in pursuit of their votebank politics."
Attacking leaders of the grand alliance, he said a JD(U) MLA and a candidate of Lalu Prasad's RJD had been caught red-handed taking bribe, but no action was taken against them.

"I want to ask these people, why are they silent on the issue of corruption after they were caught on camera taking bribe. Even before the polls, they are selling away Bihar and striking deals.

"Should Bihar be handed over to those who are out to sell it? Should Bihar be given to them? Should those who engage in corruption and protect the corrupt be allowed to form a government in Bihar?" he asked.

Hitting out at RJD chief Lalu Prasad, he said, "For them taking money is no big thing."
The Prime Minister, while urging people to vote for the BJP-led NDA alliance, said "We have to end this game (corruption) from Bihar and that is why I have come here to ask you for the victory of BJP and its allies."

Insisting that development should top the agenda in Bihar polls, Modi said, if voted to power, the NDA will ensure that Bihar progresses and moves forward.

Describing the ongoing elections as a "festival of change", Modi said, "I can see a change coming...November 8 (the day of counting) will mark the end of the 25 years of misrule in Bihar," he said.

Taking a dig at Nitish Kumar for his promise of providing computers to the youth, Modi wondered how the machines will work in the absence of electricity.

Moreover, he said the computers have contracted the "Lalu virus" resulting in "lawlessness", with crimes like atrocities on women and kidnappings on the rise.

"Your (Nitish's) computers have 'Lalu virus' which is venting out 'Jungle raj', crime, atrocities on women and kindappings. That is why Bihar's youth do not want this Lalu virus-hit computers as they do not want lawlessness and crime to rise," he said.
Modi claimed the large crowds at NDA rallies have left the grand alliance worried and its leaders were now trying to "defame" him and taking to 'mantra' and 'tantra' (occultism).

"You tell me, Bihar needs 'mantra, trantra' or 'Loktantra' (democracy). Will this 18th century thought benefit Bihar? Do people of Bihar need 'tabeez' (amulets)? Bihar's youth needs employment and progress," he said.

Modi claimed while NDA's goal was to take Bihar to greater heights by ushering in development, his rivals were only interested in defaming him.

"Their path is to defame Modi, while ours is to initiate development and take Bihar to greater heights. The decision has to be yours, Friends," he said.


"On one side there is development and they do not have anything to say against the Centre or BJP and its allies. That is why they are spreading lies," Modi said.

He also questioned JD(U) and RJD for opposing the Women's reservation bill in Parliament and asked Sonia Gandhi as to why she was aligning with such leaders.

The Prime Minister demanded that Lalu and Nitish give an account of what they have done in the state in the last 25 years. "If they can't give an account of the 25 years of their rule in Bihar, should not they be punished for this?" he asked.

"Bihar elections are meant to get rid of the ills," he said, adding that neither Nitish nor Lalu was ready to talk about development.

The Prime Minister said Bihar could usher in the second green revolution after the first by Haryana and Punjab.