Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s remark about changing the Constitution to accommodate four per cent reservation for Muslims in the state caused a huge uproar in Parliament. Ruling party BJP forced repeated adjournments in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju demanded clarification from Congress saying such a remark was unacceptable. Rijiju said, it was the Muslim League before Independence which demanded reservation for Muslims and this led to the Partition of India. In Rajya Sabha, Leader of the House J P Nadda said, giving 4 pc reservation to Muslims in contracts goes against the principle of not granting quota on the basis of religion. He said, it was never advocated by Dr B R Ambedkar and Sardar Patel. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said, no such remark about changing Constitution was made by any of his party leaders. Later, Shivakumar denied making any comment regarding changing the Constitution and claimed that he was misquoted. Shivakumar said, “I casually said there will be so many changes after various judgments. Whatever reservation has given (to Muslims) is as per the quota for backward classes. I have never said that we will change Constitution”. What D K Shivakumar said earlier was, “Yes, I agree. Let us see what the court says. We have made a beginning. I know people will go to court. Let’s wait for ‘acchhe din’. ‘Achhe Din’ will come. There are many such changes. The Constitution will change. There are decisions that change the Constitution”. After listening to this, Shivakumar’s denial or clarification has no meaning. Nor is any clarification required from Congress. Shivakumar was asked a question about quota for Muslims and he clearly said, Constitution will change. The decision to give 4 pc reservation to Muslims in contracts is one which can bring changes in Constitution. Either he made this remark mistakenly or later he realised that he made a mistake. It is up to Shivakumar to decide. The moot point is that he had clearly spoken about changing the Constitution.OPINION | Will Congress bring ‘Acche Din’ for Muslims by changing Constitution?
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s remark about changing the Constitution to accommodate four per cent reservation for Muslims in the state caused a huge uproar in Parliament. Ruling party BJP forced repeated adjournments in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju demanded clarification from Congress saying such a remark was unacceptable. Rijiju said, it was the Muslim League before Independence which demanded reservation for Muslims and this led to the Partition of India. In Rajya Sabha, Leader of the House J P Nadda said, giving 4 pc reservation to Muslims in contracts goes against the principle of not granting quota on the basis of religion. He said, it was never advocated by Dr B R Ambedkar and Sardar Patel. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said, no such remark about changing Constitution was made by any of his party leaders. Later, Shivakumar denied making any comment regarding changing the Constitution and claimed that he was misquoted. Shivakumar said, “I casually said there will be so many changes after various judgments. Whatever reservation has given (to Muslims) is as per the quota for backward classes. I have never said that we will change Constitution”. What D K Shivakumar said earlier was, “Yes, I agree. Let us see what the court says. We have made a beginning. I know people will go to court. Let’s wait for ‘acchhe din’. ‘Achhe Din’ will come. There are many such changes. The Constitution will change. There are decisions that change the Constitution”. After listening to this, Shivakumar’s denial or clarification has no meaning. Nor is any clarification required from Congress. Shivakumar was asked a question about quota for Muslims and he clearly said, Constitution will change. The decision to give 4 pc reservation to Muslims in contracts is one which can bring changes in Constitution. Either he made this remark mistakenly or later he realised that he made a mistake. It is up to Shivakumar to decide. The moot point is that he had clearly spoken about changing the Constitution.
