New Delhi [India], May 4 : Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress's Jairam Ramesh asked the PM to clarify whether he will remove the 50 per cent reservation limit on SCs, STs, and OBCs.
Speaking with ANI, Jairam Ramesh said the Congress manifesto promises to raise the reservation limit as it is necessary for the SCs, STs, and OBCs to get their full rights. He said, "We have promised in our 'Nyay Patra' that we will increase this limit of 50 per cent reservation because it is necessary for SC, ST and backward classes to get full rights."
He added further, "The Prime Minister has not broken his silence on this. Rahul ji has raised this question again and again. Our Congress President has repeatedly raised this question. Prime Minister please clarify, will you remove the 50 per cent limit or not?"
In 1992, the Supreme Court had held that caste-based reservations cannot exceed 50%.
Expressing his views on the nomination of KL Sharma from Amethi, Ramesh praised Sharma and called him a grassroot worker with experience of 40 years. "KL Sharma has been a party worker for the last 40 years. He is working in Amethi and Raebareli. Smriti Irani is for five years but he has been working for 40 years on the grassroot level. He worked on several issues," he said.
Ramesh added further, "He (KL Sharma) went to each and every village and has the experience of 40 years."
Expressing confidence in KL Sharma, Ramesh added, "And you will see that on June 4, KL Sharma will win from Amethi and Rahul Gandhi will surely win from Raebareli.
Jairam Ramesh criticised the BJP candidate from Amethi, Smriti Irani, and said that she doesn't do any work and only defames Rahul Gandhi. "Smriti Irani doesn't have any other work and only defames Rahul Gandhi. She rises to fame in the BJP by defaming Rahul Gandhi. Her language is inspired by PM and we don't take her statements seriously."
On Rahul Gandhi contesting Lok Sabha polls from two seats, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, " Didn't Narendra Modi contest from two seats? Didn't Sushma Swaraj contest from two seats? Didn't Atal Bihari Vajpayee contest from two seats? Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) has said that Amethi and Raebareli are traditional seats. So it is realistic for Rahul ji to fight from traditional seats."
Notably, voting in Amethi and Raebareli will be held in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha polls on May 20. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.