NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on May 16 termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertion that the Congress aimed to reserve 15% of the budget for Muslims as ‘foolish’, stating that budget allocation should focus on the country as a whole, not on caste or religion.
“It is foolish. Budget allocation based on caste and religion can never happen. The Central government budget is about the country, not of any cost or religion,” he said.
Regarding Mr. Modi’s “vote jihad” remark, the 83-year-old Maratha strongman dismissed it, saying there was no truth in Mr. Modi’s recent statements, suggesting a loss of confidence. “There is not even one per cent truth in what Modi speaks these days. He has lost confidence,” Mr. Pawar said.
