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Edited Video Shared as PM Modi Spoke Against Caste Based Reservation in Parliament
A video is being shared widely on social media platforms with a claim that PM Modi expressed his opposition to the caste based reservation system. The video is being shared on social media as evidence of PM Modi’s anti-reservation stance along with the hashtag #NoVoteToBJP. Following is one such tweet.
In the above tweet, we can see a video clip of PM Modi. We can also see the Vice President of India Mr. Jagdeep Dhankar in the chair. PM Modi can be heard saying, “I don’t like any form of reservation. Especially, reservation in jobs. I am against all such systems that will promote incompetency and lead to second class. Thus, I say they oppose it since birth.”
However, when we investigated this video, we found out that PM Modi was actually quoting a letter from former Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Here’s the truth of the viral video.
Fact Check
In the video, we can see Vice President Dhankar who is also the ex-officio chairman of Rajya Sabha. Hence, this speech was made on the floor of Rajya Sabha. We did a keyword search on YouTube using these details and we found a video published on the YouTube channel of The Economic Times. This video is a longer version of PM Modi’s statement on the floor.
In the video, PM Modi seems to be responding to some allegations levelled by the opposition. PM Modi starts his speech by saying, “I doubt that SC/ST would have been provided reservation, if there was no Babasaheb!” He adds, “I say this because I have evidence to show that their thoughts have always been this way. I am not here to speak without evidence, respected Speaker Sir.” He then goes on to say, “Of late, I remember (Jawaharlal) Nehru ji more often these days because our friends (in the Congress) expect me to speak about him (Nehru ji). Now, let me read out a letter written by Nehru ji. This letter was written by the country’s Prime Minister Pandit Nehru to the chief ministers of the country at that time. It's on record. I'm reading the translation: "I do not like any kinds of reservations, especially reservations in jobs. I am against any step that promotes inefficiency and that leads towards the second class." This is the letter written by Pandit Nehru ji to the chief ministers. And therefore, I say they are always opposed to reservations. Nehru ji used to say, if SC, ST and OBC communities get reservation in jobs, the standard of government work will deteriorate. And today, those who rattle the figures, the root of those is here. Because at that time, they stopped it (reservation), they said don't recruit. If their (SC, ST and OBC communities) recruitment had happened in the government at that time, and they had been promoted, they would have reached here today.
Hon’ble Mr Chairman Sir,I'm reading this quote, you can verify. I'm reading a quote by Pandit Nehru.”
The complete transcript of his speech can be found on the PIB website. PM Modi made these remarks during his speech in Rajya Sabha on 7th February this year. PM Modi was replying to the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address in the Rajya Sabha. You can read the translated transcript of his complete speech in Hindi by clicking on the link here (archived version).
The letter PM Modi quoted in Rajya Sabha was written by India’s first prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on June 27, 1961. As per a report by the Indian Express, in the letter Nehru writes, “It is true that we are tied up with certain rules and conventions about helping the Scheduled Castes and Tribes. They deserve help but, even so, I dislike any kind of reservation, more particularly in Services. I react strongly against anything which leads to inefficiency and second-rate standards. I want my country to be a first class country in everything. The moment we encourage the second-rate, we are lost.”
Nehru also batted for technical education for the Scheduled Castes and Tribes as he believed that is the only way for their upliftment. He believed that “the only real way to help a backward group is to give opportunities of good education.”
Conclusion
From the investigation, it is clear that PM Modi did not make any statement opposed to the caste-based reservation system. In a response to allegations levelled against him by opposition in Rajya Sabha, PM Modi quoted views of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on reservations. The video has been edited to show PM Modi speaking against caste-based reservation.
Title:Edited Video Shared as PM Modi Spoke Against Caste Based Reservation in Parliament
Fact Check By: Harish NairResult: False
