Reservations Battle: Political Warfare Over SC/ST, OBC, And Muslim Quotas

The battle royale over reservations in India has intensified, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other political leaders engaging in heated exchanges over the allocation of quotas for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and Muslims. In a fiery speech following two rounds of polling, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing them of Muslim appeasement and advocating for Muslims to receive a share from the OBC quota. Modi emphasized his commitment to fiercely protect the reservations provided in the Constitution for SC, ST, and OBC communities. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi countered Modi's claims by accusing the BJP of intending to eliminate reservations for SC, ST, and OBC groups. Adding fuel to the fire, INDI Alliance partner and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) of harboring an agenda to remove reservations, linking it to the Modi government's push for privatization of government assets. Union Home Minister Amit Shah retaliated by accusing the Congress of stealing OBC quota and allocating it to Muslims, presenting a frontal counterattack against their claims of championing OBC rights. As the 2024 elections progress with five more phases to go, the battle over reservations continues to escalate, with each side fiercely fighting to sway public opinion.