Minister Silawat Criticizes Rahul Gandhi's Reservation Comments

Madhya Pradesh's Water Resources Minister Tulsi Ram Silawat condemned Rahul Gandhi's remarks on reservations during his US visit, accusing him of echoing long-held family views and neglecting societal interests. Silawat stressed that the Congress has failed to implement reservation principles and has been focused solely on retaining power.

Madhya Pradesh Water Resources Minister Tulsi Ram Silawat on Monday lambasted the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for his recent comments on reservations made during a US visit. Silawat accused Gandhi of reiterating views held by his family since the era of Jawaharlal Nehru.

'Rahul Gandhi stated during his recent US visit that he would consider removing reservations. This is the same rhetoric that his family has been pushing since Nehru's time. The Congress party ruled the country for 57 years, yet it misused constitutional processes for political gains and neglected societal interests,' Silawat told reporters.

Silawat argued that the Congress has never shown the political will to implement the principles of reservation as outlined in the Indian Constitution. He claimed that the party has focused solely on remaining in power, even if it meant compromising national interests.

'The Congress's only objective has been to stay in power, even at the expense of the nation's interests,' he posted on X. During his US visit, Gandhi remarked that Congress might scrap reservations when India becomes a 'fair place,' which he claimed it currently is not.

'If you look at the Indian government, 70 bureaucrats essentially run the system—secretaries to the Government of India. Of these, only one is a tribal, three are Dalits, three are OBCs, and one belongs to a minority community. Ninety percent of India holds less than 10 percent of the influential positions. This reality creates a dilemma, as members of upper castes argue against perceived penalties,' Gandhi stated.

(With inputs from agencies.)