Dalwai Slams Quota Claims, Attacks on Minorities

Mumbai: Congress leader Husain Dalwai has reacted to a number of issues, including claims put forward by activist Manoj Jarange Patil.

Dalwai said the matter should be investigated thoroughly. He argued that the question Jarange has raised is itself incorrect.

According to Dalwai, poor families within the Maratha community should get education, jobs and farming assistance, and that much is acceptable. However, he questioned how genuine OBCs would be affected if Marathas were admitted under reservation.

He also pointed to the 500 crore claim and said people should first understand how many zeros make up a crore. He stressed that the claim must be probed.

Dalwai further said Eknath Shinde should slowly understand the party he has gone with. He suggested that Shinde should go back to Shiv Sena and help strengthen it.

On attacks against Christians in West Bengal, Dalwai strongly objected to the suggestion that Christians should practise puja and prayers. He questioned whether Christians go to churches or Muslims pray in mosques, and said the BJP had created an atmosphere in which people were facing injustice and atrocities.

On Sushil Kumar Shinde's comment about the BJP, Dalwai said the Congress had given him great respect and that he fully trusts the party and its ideology. He said he had closely observed and worked with Shinde and could not believe he would go with the BJP.

Regarding Neha Bora's detention, Dalwai said it was wrong and expressed the view that the High Court should reconsider the matter.

Dalwai also said Rahul Gandhi speaks out against atrocities on Muslims in different places, but lower-level leaders do not. He claimed that graveyards are being wiped out and that dargahs and mosques are being demolished. He said the Congress must give proper attention to Muslim issues and hold talks while taking Muslim leadership along.