Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that PM Modi is the biggest supporter of reservation and the BJP will neither end reservations nor allow anyone to do it. He also accused Congress of spreading a misconception that the BJP wants to abolish quota for the Scs, STs, and OBCs.

“(Prime Minister Narendra) Modi himself is the biggest supporter of reservation,” Shah was quoted as saying by PTI.

He was speaking at an election rally in Harsoli in Rajasthan’s Alwar district.

Shah also alleged that the Congress was “anti-OBC” and had put in cold storage key reports on the issue of reservation. “I want to make one thing clear. Congress party is spreading misconception, especially among Dalit and tribal brothers, that the BJP is going to abolish reservation,” he said.

“Listen to me carefully. Be it reservation for Dalits, tribals or backward classes, the BJP supports it. We will neither end the reservation nor allow anyone to do it,” Shah added.

Shah further said that the Congress did injustice to the backward classes for years. “It kept the Kaka Kalelkar report suppressed, kept the Mandal Commission report suppressed. Modi came and worked to give constitutional recognition to the OBC Commission,” he said.

“Modi has done the work of giving 27% reservation to the OBC community in all recruitments at the Centre,” Shah added.

Shah’s statement came in the backdrop of the Congress’ election manifesto promise of bringing a constitutional amendment to raise the 50% cap on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs. The Congress has also promised a caste census if it is voted to power.

(With inputs from PTI)