Union Minister of Home and Cooperation, Amit Shah said that following the Central Government’s guidelines, the creamy layer limit for backward classes in Haryana has been increased from Rs 6 lakh to Rs 8 lakh annually. Similar to the Government of India, salary and income from agriculture will not be clubbed in this limit, benefiting lakhs of people.
Amit Shah was addressing the gathering at the state-level Backward Class Samman Sammelan in Mahendragarh today. Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was also present on this occasion.
The Union Home and Cooperation Minister said that the Haryana government has taken another historic decision by increasing the reservation for backward classes in Panchayats, Municipal Corporations, and Municipalities. Previously, there was a provision of 8 percent reservation for the BC-A category in Panchayati Raj institutions. Now, an additional 5 percent reservation will be provided for the BC-B category. This decision will significantly benefit the people of Haryana by expanding access to reservation. Similarly, there is an existing provision of 8 percent reservation for the BC-A category in urban local bodies. Now, a 5 percent reservation will also be provided for the BC-B category. He recalled that when Prime Minister Narendra Modi first took office in 2014, he stated in his inaugural parliamentary speech that his government would be a government for Scheduled Castes, the poor, and the backward.
Amit Shah said that Congress gave reservation to Muslims in the backward class in Karnataka. If they come to Haryana, they will do the same here. He assured that reservation for Muslims will not be allowed in Haryana. Taking a dig at the opposition, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that Haryana Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda only starts chanting “BC-BC-BC” when elections are near. He accused the Congress party of always being against the OBC community. Shah highlighted that the Kaka Saheb Commission was formed in 1957 for OBC reservations, but Congress did not implement it for years. In 1980, Indira Gandhi shelved the Mandal Commission, and when it was introduced in 1990, then Prime Minister Sh Rajiv Gandhi opposed OBC reservations with a 2-hour and 43-minute speech. In contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has granted constitutional rights to the backward classes by giving constitutional recognition to the Backward Class Commission. Additionally, the BJP-led government, under Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi, has introduced 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in Kendriya Vidyalayas, Navodaya Vidyalayas, Sainik Schools, and NEET examinations for the first time.
Shah further criticized the Congress party, claiming it has contributed nothing to the state except casteism and corruption. He said that the BJP has transformed the “ease of doing corruption” under Congress into the “ease of doing business.” He also mentioned that during previous regimes, there was rampant corruption in one government while saw widespread hooliganism in another government, with development often confined to specific districts or regions. In contrast, the BJP government has ensured comprehensive development across the entire state of Haryana.
He called upon the people, including BJP workers, to go from village to village and demand an account of how much money was spent on development works during the 10-year tenure of Congress. Referring to the 6225 panchayats in the state, Sh Amit Shah mentioned that Rs 19.54 crore has been spent on development works in Brahmin Majra village over the last 10 years. Similarly, Rs 17.74 crore has been spent in Kalinga, Rs 84.33 crore in Tigaon, Rs 516.62 crore in Kariyawas, Rs 23.95 crore in Asankalan, and Rs 21.30 crore in Kharia.
He said that BJP workers will visit all 6225 panchayats to present an account of the development works carried out by the BJP. Along with this, they will also demand an account of the development works done by Congress for the people of Haryana over the past 10 years. He challenged former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, stating that Hooda should come forward with statistics. “What account will he ask from us? We will provide the account. The people of Haryana will demand an account from Congress.”
Amit Shah challenged Bhupender Singh Hooda, stating that while Hooda may attempt to scrutinize the BJP’s 10 years in power, BJP workers will instead demand an account of Hooda’s ten-year tenure. Shah asserted, “I have brought the account of every penny spent during the ten years of Congress rule. We know exactly how much corruption Congress engaged in regarding jobs, how much casteism and nepotism it spread, and why it failed to deliver justice to the backward classes. They cannot account for development.”
He further stated that during Congress rule, the Center provided Rs 41,000 crore for development projects in Haryana. In contrast, the current Narendra Modi government has allocated approximately Rs 2 lakh 59 thousand crore for the development of Haryana.
Referring to the welfare work done for the backward class in Haryana over the last 10 years, Sh Amit Shah highlighted that the Bharatiya Janata Party government has made the son of a poor family from the backward class as the Chief Minister of Haryana. He expressed confidence that Haryana will progress under his leadership. Shah praised Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh, describing him as a very straightforward and simple person whose doors are open for the people 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
While paying homage to the great freedom fighter Rao Tula Ram, Amit Shah said that the entire country, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Kamakhya to Dwarka, remembers the holy land of Haryana for three things. First, Haryana has the highest representation in military services. Second, out of the 10 medals India wins in the country’s sports tally, 7 are brought home by the ‘Dhaakad’ athletes of Haryana. Third, it is the farmers of Haryana who make the country self-sufficient in food.
Expressing confidence, he said that just as the people of the state supported the Narendra Modi government in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections and again in 2024, people of the state will once again bless the lotus in the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections. He said that the Bharatiya Janata Party will form the government in Haryana for the third time with a full majority.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, while welcoming Union Home Minister Amit Shah, expressed his gratitude for the second time in the last 18 days, having the opportunity to welcome him on the land of Baba Jairam Das. He highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given significant representation to the backward class, recently enhancing the respect of the society by appointing two MPs from Haryana’s backward class to the Union Cabinet. He said that the BJP has shown full respect to the backward class category, making history in Haryana by appointing a Chief Minister from the backward class. He acknowledged the important contribution of the backward class in the nation’s development and praised the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana, launched on September 17, 2023, for its role in the skill development of the backward class.
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini also mentioned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the OBC Commission has been granted constitutional powers, enabling BC category children to gain admission to educational institutions such as Kendriya and Navodaya Vidyalayas. He said that the central government has not only worked to secure the rights of the BC category but has also protected them. On this occasion, the Chief Minister also honored the Sarpanches of the villages Brahman Majra, Kalinga, Tigaon, Kariyawas, Asankalan, and Kharia.
Union Minister of State Rao Indrajit Singh welcomed Amit Shah on behalf of the people of Southern Haryana, emphasizing that they have consistently supported the BJP by giving all seats to Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi. He highlighted the unwavering support of the OBC and BC classes towards the BJP from the beginning. Rao Inderjit said that the BJP government has taken meaningful steps by forming a commission for backward classes.
Haryana BJP State President Mohan Lal Badauli, in his welcome address to the Union Home Minister, praised the Central Government’s mission-oriented approach to welfare for backward classes. He stated that the Haryana Government is implementing public welfare policies in alignment with the Center’s initiatives for the backward classes. He expressed gratitude to everyone involved in these welfare measures initiated by the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister.
On this occasion, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP State President Mohan Lal Badauli, Union Minister of State Krishna Pal Gurjar, Haryana Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta, Deputy Speaker Ranbir Gangwa, Health Minister Dr. Kamal Gupta, Finance Minister JP Dalal, Power Minister Ranjit Chautala, Haryana Public Works and Public Health Minister Dr. Banwari Lal, MoS for Development and Panchayats Mahipal Dhanda, MoS for Urban Local Bodies Subhash Sudha, MoS for Education Seema Trikha, MoS for Irrigation Dr. Abhe Singh Yadav, MoS for Forests Sanjay Singh, Rajya Sabha MP Subhash Barala, Rajya Sabha MP Krishna Lal Panwar, Rajya Sabha MP Ramchandra Jangra, MP Dharambir Singh, Haryana Chief Secretary TVSN Prasad, DGP Shatrujeet Kapoor, CPSCM Rajesh Khullar, APSCM Dr. Amit Kumar Agrawal, Director General of Information, Public Relations, Language and Culture Department Mandip Singh Brar and other dignitaries were also present.
