Narendra Modi speech: On reservations, PM blasts Congress; top 5 striking points to know

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Narendra Modi speech: The Prime Minister lambasted Congress party's record on reservations and said that those who did nothing for the country since Independence spread lies on the issue of reservations whenever the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power at the Centre or various states. PM was speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony of B R Ambedkar National Memorial in New Delhi. The BJP and the Modi government have come under attack following the death of Dalit student Rohith Vemula in the Hyderabad University and alleged pressure from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to dilute the reservation policy. Check out the 5 noteworthy points in PM Narendra Modi speech: (Image Source: PTI)

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1. Narendra Modi: "Those who did not do anything for 60 years often spread lies. When (Atal Bihari) Vajpayeeji became the prime minister, they started saying that reservation will go. He was the prime minister for two terms. Nothing of that sort happened, but lies were still spread." (Image Source: PTI)

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10. A country with 65 per cent youth and losing out in the world of sports, it does not make sense. It is time for a new revolution in the field of sports. We can see that like cricket, there is growing interest towards football, hockey, tennis and kabaddi. (Reuters)

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3. Narendra Modi: "There are misgivings against us. But the truth is, we in the Bharatiya Janata Party have always had the utmost respect for Ambedkar," the prime minister said. Such "misinformation campaigns" were carried out by people who only wanted to do politics on reservation. (Image Source: PTI)

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4. Narendra Modi: "If Martin Luther King Jr is seen as an image of fight against injustice, Ambedkar should also not be seen as second to anyon. He was a vishwa manav'. Babasaheb was the voice of the marginalised. Rather he was a protector of all human values. We should not limit him to our borders." (Image Source: PTI)

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The BJP also welcomed the statement of RSS that it would act as Guru Gobind Singh’s messenger through all its affiliates. "The plan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government of holding year long celebration of 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikh faith has sent Sikhs ga ga,” BJP state spokesperson S S Bijral said while addressing press conference at party headquarters. (PTI)