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Informist, Monday, Mar. 24, 2025

NEW DELHI - Proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day on Monday, without the House transacting any business, after protests erupted over remarks made by Congress leader and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, allegedly about changing the Constitution to provide reservations for Muslims. Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party also raked up the issue of 4% reservation to Muslims and other minorities in public contracts in Karnataka. 

While members of the Congress raised the issue of cash recovered from the residence of Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma, BJP members cornered the Congress over Shivakumar's alleged remarks that the party would amend the Constitution to provide reservation for minorities, particularly Muslims. The Congress, however, refuted the allegations saying Shivakumar didn't talk about amending the Constitution. 

As the House convened at 1100 IST, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said a senior Congress leader holding a constitutional post had made a statement that the party was going to change the Constitution to provide reservation to the Muslim community. "We cannot take this statement lightly," he said. 

Slamming the Congress over the alleged statement, Leader of the House and Union Minister J.P. Nadda said it was is stated in the Constitution that reservation would not be given based on religion.

Responding to the BJP's charges, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said the Congress was trying to protect the Constitution. "Our party took up the Bharat Jodo Yatra across the country to protect the Constitution," he said.

As the protests grew louder, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar adjourned the proceedings till 1400 IST. The Upper House didn't take up Zero Hour and Question Hour for the day. 

At 1400 IST, Kharge clarified that Shivakumar didn't say anything on changing the Constitution. Congress party leaders alleged that the BJP had brought up a completely fake issue to get Parliament adjourned so that the serious issue of Justice Varma's conduct wouldn't be discussed.

However, Nadda said that in Karnataka, the Vidhan Sabha had passed a proposal to reserve 4% of contracts for minority contractors. This contradicted the principles advocated by Sardar Patel and B.R. Ambedkar, who strongly opposed reservation based on religion, he said.

"In Telangana, the Vidhan Sabha first granted reservations to Muslims and minorities, effectively disregarding the rights of SC, ST, and OBC communities. D.K. Shivakumar reiterated that the Constitution was drafted by the Congress and that any amendments to it would also be carried out by the Congress. There seems to be no remorse or willingness to rectify these actions," Nadda said. 

On Sunday, Shivakumar allegedly made a statement that the Congress would amend the Constitution to provide reservation to Muslims. "There is a big debate going on regarding this issue. Many BJP leaders have claimed that Muslims are repairing bike punctures. It is our responsibility to uplift every section of society, allowing them to come forward and be part of the development. We have initiated something, and we know that everyone will approach the court. Many judgments have altered the Constitution over time," he said at News18 India Diamond States Summit 2025. 

"Let us see, let us watch...We have started something, I know that everyone will go to the court. Let us wait for some good day, the day will come. Lot of changes are there, Constitution will be changing, there are judgements which alters the Constitution also," he had said. 

The Rajya Sabha was scheduled to take up the Banking Laws amendment Bill.  End

Reported by Kuldeep Singh

Edited by Avishek Dutta

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