Ahmedabad: Stating that the reservation formula agreed upon by the Congress and Patel quota agitation leader Hardik Patel was constitutionally untenable, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today accused both of them of cheating the people of Gujarat on the issue. Mr Jaitley is the BJP's election in charge for Gujarat.
He also accused the Congress of dividing the society for political gains ahead of the Assembly polls next month. Talking to reporters in Ahmedabad, Mr Jaitley claimed that Congress's attempt to gain political ground through such tactics would eventually push Gujarat into anarchy.
He said the reservation formula for the Patel community is legally and constitutionally untenable. "Whatever promised under that reservation formula prepared by them (Congress) is not possible as per the Constitution. Neither the Constitution nor the law permits it (reservation above 50 per cent). Both of them, those who promised it and those who accepted it, are cheating the people of Gujarat," the Union Finance Minister said.
He added that the people of Gujarat are smart and will never fall prey to such "deception". Three days ago, Hardik Patel pledged his support to the Congress for the Gujarat Assembly polls after accepting the reservation formula prepared by the opposition party. The party promised to find a legitimate way to provide quota to the Patidar community over and above the 50 per cent cap set by the Supreme Court.
Without taking any names, Mr Jaitley said the Congress leadership is falling prey to the anarchist forces. "As the election is nearing, Congress is now trying to gain some ground by dividing the society. In a way, Congress has become dependent on those forces, which will bring nothing but anarchy. But, since the people of Gujarat saw such anarchy in the past (during the Congress rule), they will never go in that direction," he said.
"In the end, this election will be fought on two core issues. On one side, there is stability and governance, while on the other side, there is anarchy. There are two main combinations...Congress's combination has become a representative of anarchist forces. That is the reason why the Congress leadership has lost its way," he added.
He also accused the Congress of dividing the society for political gains ahead of the Assembly polls next month. Talking to reporters in Ahmedabad, Mr Jaitley claimed that Congress's attempt to gain political ground through such tactics would eventually push Gujarat into anarchy.
He said the reservation formula for the Patel community is legally and constitutionally untenable. "Whatever promised under that reservation formula prepared by them (Congress) is not possible as per the Constitution. Neither the Constitution nor the law permits it (reservation above 50 per cent). Both of them, those who promised it and those who accepted it, are cheating the people of Gujarat," the Union Finance Minister said.
Without taking any names, Mr Jaitley said the Congress leadership is falling prey to the anarchist forces. "As the election is nearing, Congress is now trying to gain some ground by dividing the society. In a way, Congress has become dependent on those forces, which will bring nothing but anarchy. But, since the people of Gujarat saw such anarchy in the past (during the Congress rule), they will never go in that direction," he said.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
"Neither Tired Nor Retired": Bhupinder Hooda On Next Haryana Chief Minister Trinamool Vs Ex Women's Panel Chief Over Kolkata Doctor's Rape-Murder "Congress, Some Allies Want To Destroy Country": Minister On Hindenburg Report 2 French Rafale Jets Collide Mid-Air, Instructor, Pilot Missing Ayatollah Khamenei Warns Of "Divine Wrath" If Iran Backs Down Against Israel 9 Arrested For Violence At Kolkata Hospital Where Doctor Was Raped-Murdered After Night Of Vandalism, Forensic Team Reaches Kolkata Hospital: 10 Points This Senior IPS Officer To Be Next J&K Top Cop Amid Spate Of Terror Attacks "I Am Confident That...": Italy PM Wishes India On 78th Independence Day Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.