PATNA: The Congress party on Thursday dared PM Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah to contradict RSS chief Mohan Bhagawat’s opinion to review the existing reservation policy.

“If BJP does not want to review or modify the existing reservation for SC, ST and OBCs, why Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are not coming forward to contradict Mohan Bhagwat’s recent statement favouring review of quota policy?” Congress national spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said while addressing a joint press meet of the Mahagathbandhan here.

Flanked by JD(U) spokesperson and MP Pavan Kumar Varma and his counterpart in RJD Manoj Jha, Surjewala also said, “RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is chief justice of BJP’s supreme court and neither PM Modi nor Amit Shah have courage to negate his view on reservation issue.”

Surjewala also questioned the PM’s silence over Bhagwat’s recent statement seeking review of the reservation policy. “Why is the PM silent over Bhagwat’s statement?” he questioned.

RSS chief, in a recent interview to Sangh’s mouthpiece 'Organiser' and 'Panchjanya', pitched for a review of the reservation policy, contending it has been used for political ends and suggesting setting up of an apolitical committee to examine who needs the facility and for how long.

To a question, Surjewala said that the Congress had time and again clarified its stand on the reservation issue. “ Congress firmly supports the existing reservation policy for SC, ST and OBCs and does not favour any demand for modification in it. At the same time, Congress wants a nationwide debate on the issue of taking affirmative actions for welfare of poor among the upper castes,” he said.

Supporting Surjewala’s view, RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha asked, “Will Narendra Modi criticise Bhagwat at any public platform for seeking review of the existing reservation policy?”

Jha also pointed out that Modi, as chief minister of Gujarat, had taken several decisions that went against the interest of SCs and STs of that state. “Modi’s track-record vis-à-vis reservation is not trustworthy. He can’t go beyond the opinion of the RSS. Hence, we are apprehensive that the BJP might take a decision to review the reservation policy as per the advice of Mohan Bhagwat,” Jha said and urged Modi to contradict Bhagwat’s statement.

Refusing to accept the clarification issued by Amit Shah in Begusarai that reservation would never be ended, Jha said, “Why are you (BJP leaders) repeatedly giving such clarifications. These clarifications create more doubts in peoples’ mind. Why don’t BJP leaders criticise Bhagwat’s stand, if they are clear on reservation issue?” Jha quipped.