Union Ministers Slam Rahul Gandhi for Remarks on Reservations in US

Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje and other BJP leaders criticized Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's comments on reservations during his US visit, questioning his intentions and accusing him of defaming India on foreign soil.

Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje questioned the intention behind Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's remarks on reservation while he was in the US. She emphasized that as an opposition leader, Gandhi should unite inside the country and not defame India abroad.

'Rahul Gandhi is the leader of the opposition inside the Parliament, he is not the leader of the opposition of India outside the country. We are one, why does he not understand this? What does he intend to do by defaming India? Is there any conspiracy against the country? We will not tolerate this,' Karandlaje said to reporters on Wednesday. Gandhi recently noted that the Congress would consider scrapping reservations once India becomes a 'fair place'.

While interacting with students and faculty at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, Gandhi emphasized the need for a caste census, stating that 90% of the population—including OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis—lacks proper representation. He claimed that this issue is the 'elephant in the room' regarding institutional and business capture in India.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal has accused Gandhi of defaming the nation abroad in a 'shameful manner' and questioned the motive behind his statements, suggesting that this is part of a calculated agenda to attack PM Modi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah echoed these sentiments, alleging that Gandhi's comments align with forces aiming to divide the country and affirming the BJP's commitment to reservation policies.

(With inputs from agencies.)