As soon as proceedings began in Rajya Sabha Monday morning, a ruckus ensued over Karnataka Congress leader D K Shivakumar’s recent comments on “reservation for minorities”, and the Upper House was adjourned until 2 pm without transacting any business. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju rose to demand an explanation from the Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge regarding the Congress' position on reservation for Muslims, and on their leader’s reported remarks about changing the Constitution. BJP MPs started moving into the aisle shouting slogans just as the House met for the day. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar gave Rijiju the floor to speak about the reason they were agitating. Without naming Shivakumar, Rijiju said the statements were "extremely serious”. “It is not our intention to disrupt this zero hour, (but) I am standing here because an extremely sensitive matter has come to our notice. One of the very responsible leaders of the Congress party, who is holding a constitutional post. They have made a statement that they are going to change the Constitution to provide reservations in contracts to the Muslim community,” said the minister. “We cannot take this statement lightly. It is an extremely serious matter we cannot tolerate, and this an assault on the Constitution of India. I want a clear-cut reply from the Congress president (Kharge); he should tell the House as well as the people of India why the Congress party wants to change the Constitution to provide reservations to Muslims," Rijiju said. While Kharge said nobody can change the Constitution, he added that his party, in fact, took up the Bharat Jodo Yatra across the country last year to protect the Constitution. "Nobody can change the Constitution drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar. Nobody can finish the reservation. To protect it, we did the Bharat Jodo Yatra from Kashmir to Kanyakumari,” he said. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Opposition mounted a campaign against the BJP-led NDA on their agenda to change the Constitution, and the ruling combine has been defending themselves on the issue ever since. On Monday, while talking to reporters, demanding Shivakumar’s resignation, Rijiju said, "Both Houses were adjourned on the issue of a senior Congress leader raising the issue of Muslim reservation, and he has clearly stated that the Constitution of India would be changing. The Muslim representation and reservation was squarely rejected in 1947.” In Rajya Sabha, Leader of the House J P Nadda also weighed in and added that it is stated in the Constitution that reservation will not be given based on religion. "No one can change the Constitution that evolved under the guidance of BR Ambedkar," he said. Soon after, Dhankhar adjourned the House till 2 pm. Amid the row over his remarks, Shivakumar later said he was being misquoted. “As per the quota of the backward classes, reservation has been given. I have not said that we are going to change the Constitution… They are misquoting me.” “It is our party that brought the Constitution to this country. I will take breach of privilege on this," said Shivakumar, who had spoken about a Bill for providing four per cent reservation to minorities and other backward classes in public contracts in the state, at an event Sunday.
