He was against reservation: PM Modi weaponises Nehru's letter in Rajya Sabha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi intensified his criticism of the Congress on Wednesday, alleging that party icon and former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru opposed reservations for marginalized communities, citing concerns about inefficiency within the system.

#WATCH | In Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reads out a letter by the then PM late Jawaharlal Nehru to the then Chief Ministers.

He says, "....I am reading out its translation - "I dislike any kind of reservation, more particularly in services. I am strongly against… pic.twitter.com/MeulkyxRLP

— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2024

Nehru was against reservation, says PM Modi

In a scathing attack during a session in the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi invoked Nehru's purported stance on reservations, asserting, "I remember Nehruji a lot these days... He once wrote a letter to chief ministers, in which he said he was against reservation and that (it promoted) non-meritorious people."

#WATCH | In Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Congress and its allies have always had difficulty in giving greater participation to SC/ST and OBC. They left no stone unturned to destroy Baba Saheb's ideas. There was no preparation to give him Bharat Ratna, when the… pic.twitter.com/dmlrUJflER

— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2024

"Nehruji used to say that if SC, ST, or OBCs get reservations in jobs, then government work standards will fall. He even stopped recruitment. What Nehruji said has been pathhar ki lakeer ('set in stone') for the Congress since. Your mindset can be understood through such examples," the PM lashed out.

PM highlights government's commitment to Dalits and Adivasis

Highlighting what he perceived as the Congress party's historical opposition to the interests of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST), PM Modi emphasized his government's commitment to these communities. "But we have always prioritized them... first Dalits and now Adivasis. Who are the beneficiaries of our schemes? All our works are for the SC, ST, and OBC communities," he continued.

PM Modi accuses Congress of opposing President's appointment

PM Modi further pointed to the recent election of President Murmu, the first tribal woman to hold the post, suggesting that the opposition's resistance to her appointment was not rooted in ideology but rather opposition to an Adivasi woman.

The prime minister said, "Your (opposition to Ms Murmu) wasn't for ideology. You made someone who went from BJP (former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha) the candidate. You were opposed to an Adivasi woman."

#WATCH | In Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "Congress and its allies have always had difficulty in giving greater participation to SC/ST and OBC. They left no stone unturned to destroy Baba Saheb's ideas. There was no preparation to give him Bharat Ratna, when the… pic.twitter.com/dmlrUJflER

— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2024

The Prime Minister's sharp rebuke of the Congress, delivered in the backdrop of an upcoming general election where issues of caste survey/census and reservation are anticipated to be prominent, which was highlighted in his earlier remarks in the Lok Sabha on Monday. 

Congress never trusted India's potential: PM Modi

On that occasion, PM Modi targeted not only Nehru but also former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, accusing them of lacking faith in the capabilities of Indians.

#WATCH | In Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, "...The Congress that, in its greed for power, openly strangled democracy, the Congress that dissolved democratically-elected governments overnight, the Congress that jailed the Constitutional decorum, the Congress that… pic.twitter.com/D1csBcIPD0

— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2024

"The Congress never trusted India's potential. They always considered themselves rulers and belittled people," PM Modi asserted, before once again singling out Nehru, this time regarding the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. "Kashmiris have paid a heavy price for Nehru's mistake..." he stated.