Rajnath Singh: Previous Congress govts tried to create division in armed forces by recommending 'religious census'

NEW DELHI: Union defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday alleged that previous Congress governments at the Centre had tried to create division in the country's armed forces by recommending 'religious census'. Rajnath also claimed that Congress manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections indicates backdoor attempts to implement religion-based quota if voted to power.
Addressing an election campaign at Vishakhapatnam, Rajnath said, "The Sachar Committee, which was formed by the Congress government, recommended a religion-based census in the armed forces in 2006. The Congress, in its manifesto (for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections), has also hinted at a reservation for religious minorities if they are elected. If they introduce reservations for religious minorities and extend the idea to the armed forces, it wouldn't bode well for the country's unity and integrity of the country."
"What worries me more is that whatever the Congress has put in its manifesto in the name of minority welfare has echoes of the ideas and recommendations in the Sachar Committee report," the Union defence minister said.
Responding to Rajnath Singh's claims, Congress leader Alok Sharma said that the BJP has resorted to 'religious and social polarisation' after 'losing' the first phase of the Lok Sabha election. He said Rajnath Singh should answer why there has been no election in Jammu and Kashmir in the past 10 years.
"The way BJP has lost in the first phase of (Lok Sabha) polls, they have resorted to religious and social polarisation. You are the defence minister, you should reveal what Sonam Wangchuck is saying and why elections have not been conducted in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 10 years," Alok Sharma said.
Singh further said the Sachar Committee which was formed during the tenure of the Congress government, gave its report in 2006 suggesting that the Indian Army should be counted on the basis of religion. For the first time in the history of independent India, it was seen that an attempt was made to divide the military forces on the basis of religion.
"My concern is whatever the Congress has said in its manifesto in the name of 'minority welfare' is influenced by the report of the Sachar Committee," he said.
"The promises that the Congress has made in its manifesto stand to divide our society. Sections 3 and 6, under the Minorities Chapter in their manifesto, bare their real intentions. This is a party that divided the country on religious lines and has appeasement in its DNA," the Union defence minister stated.
Rajnath Singh's attack on Congress comes amid BJP's massive onslaught over grand old party's manifesto pitch for socio-economic and caste survey and redistribution of resources if voted to power. The BJP has linked Congress manifesto pitch to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's 2006 remark about minorities, espcecially Muslims, having first right to the nation's resources.
(With inputs from agencies)