Dhankhar takes veiled dig at Rahul over quota misquote; Congress hits back

As the BJP continues to attack Rahul Gandhi by misquoting him on a remark he made on reservation in the US recently, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar has made a veiled reference to the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha as well, slamming him for something he never said.

The Congress hit back on Sunday (September 15), asking Dhankhar whether he supported Rahul in his demand for the removal of the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs.

Dhankhar’s public comment

The party’s jibe came after Dhankhar said at a public meeting in Mumbai without naming Rahul, “A person from a constitutional post saying on foreign soil that reservation should be ended underscores the same anti-constitutional mindset. The baton of prejudices against reservation has been handed over. It is the same old anti-constitutional mindset.”

Rahul, during a recent visit to the US, said the Congress would think of scrapping reservations when India is a fair place, which is not the case right now. Soon, the BJP started claiming that Rahul had said the Congress would end reservations.

Misquoted, says Rahul

Rahul later clarified at a press interaction in the US that he had been misquoted. “Somebody misquoted me saying that I am against reservation. I have been saying again and again and again, we are going to increase reservations beyond 50 per cent.”

However, the Vice-President further said at the event, “Reservation is not against meritocracy, but it is the soul of the country and the Constitution. It is an affirmative action and not negative. It is not depriving someone of an opportunity but hand-holding those who are pillars of strength of society.”

Reacting to the remarks, Congress’s media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said on X, “Mr Rahul Gandhi has demanded removal of the 50% limit on reservations for SC/STs & OBCs. Do you support this demand of the Congress, Mr @VPIndia?”

(With agency inputs)