PM’s charge of budget allocation for Muslims foolish: Sharad Pawar

NCP Chief Sharad Pawar criticizes PM Modi's claim of Congress wanting 15% budget for Muslims, emphasizing budget neutrality

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that Congress wanted to keep 15% of the budget for Muslims is “foolish”, said NCP (SP) Chief Sharad Pawar on May 16, stressing that allocation based on caste and religion can never happen.

Talking to reporters here, Mr. Pawar said the Central Government budget is about the country not of any caste or religion.

PM Modi on May 15 alleged that the Congress during its previous rule wanted to allocate 15% of the Central Government budget for Muslims and vowed not to allow splitting of budget or reservation in jobs and education on the basis of religion.

Mr. Pawar said such a claim is "foolish". He said, “Budget allocation on the basis of caste and religion can never happen.” Asked about PM Modi’s “vote jihad” remark, Mr. Pawar said, “There is not even one per cent truth in what Modi speaks these days. He has lost confidence.”

Mr. Pawar said when Modi was the Chief Minister (of Gujarat) he was interested in development in agriculture, but now he speaks only of politics.

The 83-year-old politician also responded to a question about his recent remark that several regional parties could merge with the Congress in the near future.

If ideology is the same, then a merger of parties should happen. “Why is Modi so troubled by my comment? I did not speak about Uddhav Thackeray’s party. Is that a small party? It got more seats (than us) in the last assembly elections,” he said.