Gandhinagar:

In the first phase of India’s general election, 102 seats were voted for in 21 states and federal territories. Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Bharatiya Janata Party will never change its caste-based reservation policy and will not let anyone People touch it. He also said the Congress, not the BJP, had a history of abusing its numerical advantage.

Shah filed his nomination today from the Gandhinagar seat in Gujarat, which is going to polls on May 7.

In an exclusive interview with New Delhi TV, Shah said the BJP hopes to achieve its best-ever performance in southern India in this election. “Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, we will be strong in all these states. This is Modi (Prime Minister Narendra)’s plan in the south For the first time, support has reached a point where it will translate into electoral results,” he said.

Shah said the BJP’s vote share in the South had increased in both the 2014 and 2019 general elections compared to previous years. “But we are not yet at the level of winning seats. But this time, we are confident that many of our colleagues will be elected this time,” he said.

Replying to a question on opposition parties’ allegations that the BJP plans to amend the constitution if it returns to power with an absolute majority, he replied: “They are linking this to reservation and saying it in a roundabout way. I will answer the question directly. “In 2014, we (NDA) had the required majority to amend the constitution and in 2019, the BJP had an absolute majority but we never tweaked the reservation (policy) and I made it clear that we will never tamper with the reservation. Let anyone do it. This is our commitment to the people and maximum efforts for the advancement of Dalits, tribals and backward classes. ”

The Home Minister said the BJP used its majority to dilute Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, abolish triple talaq and bring the Citizenship Amendment Bill. “We did not use it to block reservation. The Congress has a tradition of abusing its majority. Indira Gandhi used the majority to impose Emergency and stifle democracy. We used our majority to ensure 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament, state legislation Establishment. People know they (the opposition parties) don’t have a problem, so they try to appeal to people’s emotions, but I don’t think people are misled,” he said.

On the opposition parties’ allegations against the BJP’s electronic voting machines and election bond system, he said, “Their party also received donations through bonds. Is this also extortion? Rahul Gandhi must tell the people that yes, we are extorting too “They get more donations in proportion to the number of MPs than we get, they have no problems, there are no corruption charges against us, so they are trying to create chaos and they are not going to succeed. I have traveled across the country and people are ready to vote for Prime Minister Modi. ”

On the government’s war against left-wing extremism, he said: “The BJP’s commitment has not changed. Terrorism and Naxalism are not democratic and should be eradicated. We welcome those who lay down their arms. Security forces will fight against those who lay down their arms The person responded “No. “