Opposition Walks Out of Rajya Sabha Amid Uproar Over Muslim OBC Reservation
Heated debate erupts in Parliament as BJP and opposition clash over reservation policies
New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha witnessed intense disruptions on Monday after remarks by BJP MP K. Laxman triggered strong protests from opposition members, who later staged a walkout.
The controversy began during the Zero Hour when Laxman alleged that several opposition ruled states were including Muslims in the Other Backward Classes category to extend reservation benefits as part of vote bank politics. His remarks drew immediate objections from opposition leaders, who strongly opposed the demand to stop the inclusion of Muslims in the OBC list.
Opposition members argued that such statements go against the principles of social justice and unfairly target a particular community. The heated exchange quickly escalated, leading to chaos in the House.
During his address, Laxman claimed that states such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala and Telangana were granting OBC status to Muslims. He argued that reservation based on religion is not permitted under the Constitution and said that B. R. Ambedkar had opposed such policies. He also cited Tamil Nadu as an example, stating that Muslims are given 3.5 percent reservation there, which he described as detrimental to the rights of existing OBC communities.
Responding sharply, the Congress party criticised the BJP’s stance as contradictory. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself had acknowledged the OBC status of several Muslim communities in the past. He referred to a statement from February 2022 in which Modi reportedly said that around 70 Muslim communities in Gujarat fall under the OBC category.
The issue sparked a broader political debate over reservation policies and their scope. While the BJP described the move as politically motivated, the opposition maintained that it is a matter of ensuring social justice and protecting the rights of backward communities.
Amid the ongoing uproar, opposition members eventually walked out of the House, disrupting proceedings.
