“Constitution does not provide for faith-based reservation…80-odd amendments were done by Congress”: EAM Jaishankar

New Delhi: Delving into the ongoing political slugfest over faith-based reservation, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar slammed Congress and other opposition parties of the INDIA bloc and said they systematically used the argument of faith to take away reservation from those who had it as well as fiddled with the Constitution the maximum number of times.

In an interview with ANI, when asked about the opposition’s claims that “BJP might eradicate reservation and has no respect for the Constitution”, Jaishankar said that it is the Congress and some parties of the INDIA bloc that actually attacked reservation quota in the country based on religion.

“Who has actually attacked reservation in this country, Congress and some parties of INDI alliance, They have systematically used the argument of faith and created minority institutions and taken away reservations from those who had it,” Jaishankar said.

External Affairs Minister further stated that the Constitution does not provide faith-based reservations but Congress and its partners are “implementing and advancing faith-based reservations”.

#WATCH | On Congress’ allegation that “BJP will end reservation, Constitution”, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, “Who has attacked reservation in this country? The Congress party and some other parties of the INDI alliance. They have systematically used the argument of faith and created… pic.twitter.com/HDVnFAKHrJ

— ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2024

“Constitution provides for reservation for SC, ST and OBC. The Constitution does not provide faith-based reservation. But effectively you are implementing and advancing faith-based reservation and then you say I have respect for Constitution,” he said.

Jaishankar recalled the 10-year tenure of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the Centre and questioned the way the government used to function under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

He also slammed Rahul Gandhi for tearing apart a copy of the ordinance, which was passed by the Union Cabinet in 2013.

“Tell me which article of the Constitution allows governance by remote control, who was controlling policy for the 10 years of UPA and what was the Constitutional sanctity of it. When somebody (Rahul Gandhi) can come to the meeting and tear-up what cabinet has approved. Where is the respect for Constitution, If you think you are entitled to tear up what you don’t like you really think people are going to buy that,” Jaishankar said.

Jaishankar added, “80-odd amendments to the Constitution were done by whom it was the Congress. A party which has the highest record of changing the constitution now have the temerity to say that other people intent on the Constitution.”

On West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee not agreeing with the Calcutta High Court order scrapping OBC certificates issued after 2010, Jaishankar said that defying a court is not a way of practicing a democracy.

“We have all been at the receiving ends of the courts. You don’t say to the court that I won’t obey what you say. An administrative authority does not defy a judicial pronouncement. That’s not the way democracy functions. You are talking about the future of democracy first-place practice future of democracy. Defying a court is not a way of practicing a democracy,” he said.

Earlier West Bengal Mamata Banerjee at an election rally on Thursday said, “Not everyone in the courts are bad. I respect the judiciary. But the person who has given this order. I don’t accept his judgment. I will not accept it. OBC reservation will continue. I will move higher courts if needed. They don’t know me. I am not someone who will bow to their whims,” she said.

The CM Banerjee stated that the OBC reservations were implemented in accordance with the law and, even earlier, petitions were filed against it but the appellants lost their cases.

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday cancelled all OBC certificates issued in West Bengal after 2010. The court has directed the West Bengal Backward Classes Commission to prepare a new list of OBCs in accordance with the 1993 Act.

Those on the OBC list before 2010 will remain. However, all OBC nominations after 2010 were cancelled. An estimated 5 lakh OBC certificates are set to be canceled in light of the order.