PM Modi: Upper caste quota has given sleepless nights to Opposition

New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday rejected allegations that the government decision to provide 10 per cent reservation in education and jobs for the economically weaker sections in the general category was politically motivated with an eye on upper caste vote in the Lok Sabha pollsCalling the charges as illogical the Prime Minister told BJP booth workers from Hatkanangale Kolhapur Madha Satara in Maharashtra and from South Goa parliamentary constituencies that the decision has given sleepless nights to opposition parties which he said were spreading lies and rumoursIf our decision lacked strength they opposition parties would not have had sleepless nights Now they are spreading lies and rumours Modi said adding that the historic decision was taken in national interestOur government believes in sabka sath sabka vikas For the first time such a decision was taken They opposition parties did nothing for social justice and when we did they were caught sleeping The Bill was passed in Parliament in just 48 hours he saidHe asserted that the decision was taken by rising above political lines saying it was not possible without an amendment in the ConstitutionThe existing reservation for SCsSTs and OBCs will not be disturbed We are increasing 10 per cent seats in education institutions This will open new doors of opportunities A major section of the society will get justice he said urging the party cadre to counter aggressively the oppositions chargeThe Prime Minister also rejected the allegation that the decision was politically motivated and was taken in view of the Lok Sabha pollsIndia conducts elections frequently in a year By claiming that I decided to implement it for some election is illogical If this decision had been implemented a few months ago there would have been rumours that it was taken before Assembly elections in five states So rather than politicising it everybody should be supportive of such measures he saidResponding to queries on the changes in the last five years the Prime Minister said India has moved from a country making headlines for scams power cuts economic crisis poor sanitation to schemes electrification high economic growth and an increase in sanitation from 38 per cent to 98 per centIndia was counted among the fragile five global economies while today it is the worlds fastest growing economy The earlier scenario of high inflation and low growth has changed to low inflation and high growth he saidTalking to party cadre of South Goa he assured them that the Union government was exploring all legal means to resume mining in the state which came to a halt in March 2018 following a Supreme Court verdictHe said his government acknowledges the stress on mining dependents and the importance of mining to Goas economyModi hailed ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for taking the state to new heights of development and wished him a speedy recoveryCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get the latest updatesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever