Why is Modi firefighting allegations that he will end reservations?
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Both supporters and detractors of the Bharatiya Janata Party will agree that the past decade has changed Indian politics. Narendra Modi’s administration has brought in a paradigm shift to Indian politics, bringing Hindu nationalism to the centre in India.
On policy, the BJP rolled back Kashmir’s special status, brought in a religion-based citizenship statute, instituted reservations for upper castes and, in Uttarakhand, even abolished Muslim personal law. On welfare, Modi has turbocharged a new form of state support, handing out private goods and cash to citizens, in place of old-style welfare such as health and education infrastructure.
Yet, oddly enough, rather than tom-tom these political and policy changes, for much of the current election campaign, Modi has mostly concentrated on one thing: rebutting allegations that if he comes to power for a third time, he will end reservations in educational institutions and government jobs for members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
On Monday, for example,...
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