Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday accused the Congress of planning to end reservations for the SC, ST and OBC communities.

Addressing a rally in Sarath constituency under Deoghar district in Santhal Pargana which goes to polls on November 20, Modi said, “Congress has dangerous intentions. Congress ka ‘shehzada’ (a term used by Modi for Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi) has made it clear that they want to end reservation for the SC, ST and OBCs.”

He accused the Congress party of consistently opposing reservation policies and alleged that Congress aimed to weaken the rights of these groups. His comments were part of a larger appeal to the voters in Jharkhand amid the first phase of Assembly elections in 43 constituencies on Wednesday.

“When his father (former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi) was the supreme leader of Congress, he had announced the abolition of reservation. But due to the unity of the SC/ST/OBCs, he lost the elections badly. Since then till today, Congress has never had an absolute majority in the central government. Even today, in the states where the SC, ST and OBC population is high, Congress has been wiped out,” claimed Modi.

He further alleged that the Congress is attempting to divide SC, ST and OBC communities to weaken their collective influence.

“That is why Congress has hatched a new conspiracy. Congress has played a new game to throw dust in your eyes. These people want to break the collective power of the SC, ST and OBC communities, want to tear it into pieces,” he stated.

Modi blamed the Congress, the RJD and the JMM for migration, poverty and unemployment issues in Jharkhand during the rally.

He then came back to the saffron party’s main electoral plank for Jharkhand — Bangladeshi infiltration — and claimed it as the “biggest issue”.

“Wherever I have travelled in Jharkhand, the biggest worry has been Bangladeshi infiltration... As per the data available, the tribal population in Santhal has reduced to half... We have to protect our tribal families and every Jharkhandi,” Modi said.

He alleged that a “huge conspiracy” was underway to change the identity of Jharkhand. He also blamed the ruling JMM-Congress government for making infiltrators permanent residents in the state.

“Under JMM-Congress, every wrong thing was done to make these infiltrators permanent residents in the state. These infiltrators snatched your jobs and ‘roti’. JMM govt said in court that there has been no infiltration in the state... I assure you that BJP will protect roti, beti and maati,” Modi said.