'It's All False': Shivakumar Denies 'Constitution Change' Remark, BJP Dismisses 'Misquoted' Claim

Last Updated:March 24, 2025, 14:39 IST

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad accused Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar of intending to change the Constitution for Muslim reservation. Shivakumar denied the claim, calling it BJP's misquotation.

BJP leaders and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar engage in a war of words over his 'Constitution change' remark. (Source: PTI)

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, while speaking on the political row over Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s ‘Constitution change’ remark, on Monday said that the leader was not misquoted as he had claimed earlier in the day.

“He meant that if the opportunity arises, we will change the Constitution," said Prasad in the press conference. He added that this is an appeasement politics that Congress is indulging in for the sake of the Muslim vote.

Hours before, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “The NDA party has taken very serious note of the statement given by a senior Congress leader who is holding a Constitutional position and he has clearly stated that the reservation in contracts to the Muslims is a step towards providing reservation and other facilities to the Muslim community and for that, he has clearly stated that the Constitution of India would be changed. His statement is very clear."

“Our Constitution is secular, there can be reservation on the basis of economic and social criteria but there cannot be reservation on the basis of religious identity and affiliation…By amending the Constitution, the person has committed a fraud on the Constitution of India," he added.

DK Shivakumar Alleges BJP ‘Falsely Attributing Statements To Me’

Amid the political row over his ‘Constitution change remark’, DK Shivakumar wrote on X that BJP leaders are trying to malign the Congress Party and falsely attribute statements to him.

“A frustrated BJP, its State and Central leadership & its Union Minister, @KirenRijiju are resorting to brazen and blatant lies to malign the Congress Party and me by falsely attributing statements to me. BJP & its lying Ministers should know -: 1. I was not present in the Assembly when the discussion on the Bill took place. 2. I have never stated that the Constitution will be amended in any manner to give religion-based reservation," Shivakumar said on X.

“Historically, Baba Saheb and Congress framed the Constitution and BJP’s parent organization opposed it. Even in the last Parliament, the BJP wanted to change the Constitution and was asking for 400 seats to deny rights to the poor and underprivileged. To hide their sins, they are now accusing the Congress and me. Also, reservation in Karnataka is given based on criteria of backwardness. 3. BJP is peeved with the 5 Guarantees of Congress which transfers over ₹52,000 CR to the poor and underprivileged. The sinister design is to somehow abolish the Guarantees, which will never happen and can happen over my dead body. I will continue this fight to defend the guarantees and these conspiracies of BJP will fail decisively," he added.

Earlier in the day, Shivakumar had said that he had casually spoken about many changes introduced after different judgements. He had further said that BJP and not the media is misquoting him.

“I am a sensible, senior politician, than Mr Nadda. I have been in the Assembly for the last 36 years. I have a basic common sense. I have said casually that there will be so many changes after various judgements. As per the quota of the backwards classes, reservation has been given. I have not said that we are going to change the Constitution. Whatever they are quoting is wrong. They are miscarrying it. We are a national party…It is our party that brought the Constitution to this country…I will take a breach of privilege on this. I will fight a case. The media is not misquoting me. It is the BJP who is misquoting me," he said while speaking to media.

What Did DK Shivakumar Say That Caused Political Uproar?

DK Shivakumar, while speaking about the bill which provided a 4% quota to Muslims in public contracts in the state on News18 India Diamond States Summit 2025 on Sunday, said that the “constitution will be changing".

While speaking about the reservation, Shivakumar went on to say “Lot of changes are there, Constitution will be changing, there are judgements which alters the Constitution also".

“There is a big debate going on regarding this issue. Many BJP leaders have claimed that Muslims are repairing bike punctures. It is our responsibility to uplift every section of society, allowing them to come forward and be part of the development. We have initiated something, and we know that everyone will approach the court. Many judgments have altered the Constitution over time," Shivakumar said.

“Let us see, let us watch. Let what court comes out. We have started something, I know that everyone will go to the court. Let us wait for some good day, the day will come. Lot of changes are there, Constitution will be changing, there are judgements which alters the Constitution also," the deputy chief minister added.

News politics 'It's All False': Shivakumar Denies 'Constitution Change' Remark, BJP Dismisses 'Misquoted' Claim