Lok Sabha Elections 2024: PM Modi throws 'mujra' jibe at Opposition over reservation row

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (May 25) launched a scathing attack on the Opposition INDIA bloc, saying that even if they perform "mujra" (dance) before their purported vote bank, he will not let them snatch away the reservation benefits constitutionally accorded to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Communities (OBCs).

Addressing an election rally in Bihar's Patliputra, Prime Minister Modi said the INDIA bloc is free to be at the service of their vote bank but for him the Constitution is supreme.

"I am giving the guarantee to Bihar, SC/ST/OBC communities, till Modi is alive, I will not let them snatch away their rights. For Modi, Constitution is supreme, for Modi, Babasaheb Ambedkar's sentiments are supreme... if the INDIA bloc wants to accept the servitude of their vote bank, they are free to do so...if they want to perform mujra (dance), they are free to do... I will still stand with the SC/ST/OBC reservation staunchly," he said.

Mujra is a dance by women that was performed in the past for the entertainment of elite class and local rulers like the nawabs of the Indian society. Currently, it is performed in certain areas of Pakistan.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress of changing the law linked to minority institutions to make their vote bank happy.

"After this, thousands of institutions were declared minority institutions. Earlier, SC/ST/OBC used to get full reservations during admission to these institutions," he said, as reported by ANI news agency.

PM Modi claimed that the Rashtriya Janata Dal-Congress alliance intend to provide their vote bank reservation on the basis of religion.

"Our constitution says that there will be no reservation based on religion in India. Babasaheb Ambedkar used to say that there would be no reservation based on religion...But RJD-Congress want to give reservation to their vote bank based on religion by ending the quota of SC/ST/OBC," he told ANI.

PM Modi also took a jibe at Lalu Yadav's RJD, whose election symbol is a lantern.

"This is the era of LED bulbs and people in Bihar are roaming around with a lantern. This is a lantern that lights up just one house. This lantern has spread darkness all over Bihar," he said.

Reacting to the prime minister's remarks, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera saidin an X post written in Hindi: “Today, I heard the word 'Mujra' from the mouth of the Prime Minister. Modiji, what is this state of mind? Why don’t you take something? Amit Shah and JP Nadda ji should get him treated immediately. Perhaps delivering speeches under the Sun has had too much of an effect on his brain.”

(With inputs from agencies)