PM Narendra Modi seeking "communal polarisation" through quota remark: Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress today hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his charge against the grand alliance that it was trying to give five per cent from SC, ST, OBC quotas to a "particular community", alleging he was attempting "communal polarisation" as BJP stared at a "big defeat".

"The Prime Minister is habitual when it comes to attempts at communal polarisation during elections......The BJP is staring at a big defeat," party's senior spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters.

Claiming that these are "desperate attempts" by the Prime Minister, he said that Modi "never believes in speaking truth and ....is comfortable with lies".

Accusing the Prime Minister of misleading people, he said the Supreme Court has already settled the quota issue.

"These leaders are making a devious plan. They are conspiring to take away 5 per cent reservation of dalits, mahadalits, backwards and extremely backwards and give it to a particular community.

"I come from an extremely backward class and understand the pain of having been born to a poor woman. I will not allow this to happen. I pledge to protect the rights of dalits, mahadalits and backwards even if it means sacrificing my life," Modi had told an election rally in Buxar earlier in the day.

Congress is part of the grand alliance which also includes JD(U) and RJD.