"Congress wants partition of India again": BJP's Sambit Patra criticises DK Shivakumar for his remarks on changing Constitution

Speaking to ANI, Patra claimed that the Congress is trying to introduce reservations for Muslims in the Constitution, a move, according to him, that was opposed by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

He further stated that India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had partitioned the nation to become the Prime Minister of India.

"Congress' true face is revealed today. Their nature has been revealed today. DK Shivakumar is not an ordinary leader. He is close to the Gandhi family, to Rahul Gandhi... Nehru ji partitioned the nation to keep his ambition alive. To become the PM, he divided Maa Bharti into two on the basis of religion... Today, the Gandhi family is doing the same," Patra said.

Sharpening his attack on Rahul Gandhi, the BJP from Odisha's Puri further termed him "Politically" unfit, alleging him of conspiring to change the constitution of the country.

"They are speaking of giving Muslim reservations a place in the Constitution--Baba Saheb Ambedkar was against it. They want a partition of India once again because Rahul Gandhi is politically unfit. He is conspiring to become a leader somewhere by dividing the nation and changing the Constitution of the country. India won't tolerate this," he added.

This comes after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar at an event on Sunday talked about the bill that provided four per cent reservation to minorities and other backward classes in public contracts in the state in an event, purportedly saying that the "constitution will be changing."

His remarks sparked a massive row and drew backlash from BJP leaders.

The Karnataka State Cabinet earlier approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, which aims to provide a four percent reservation in tenders to minority contractors. The decision was taken on March 14 in a meeting chaired by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the Cabinet Hall of the Vidhan Sabha.

Official sources added that the amendment will be made after the KTPP act is tabled in the ongoing assembly session.

However, Shivakumar has clarified that the State government's decision to provide a four percent reservation in government contracts is not exclusive to Muslims but extends to "all minority communities and backward classes." (ANI)