Hyderabad: Telangana BJP has decided to make Muslim reservation a major issue during the 2019 General elections.
Addressing a press conference in Assembly premises on Wednesday, BJP floor leader in Assembly G. Kishan Reddy said that there was no provision in the Constitution to provide reservation on the basis of religion.
However, with a view to get their votes, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao provided 12% reservation to Muslims in jobs and education and also passed a Bill in both the Houses of Telangana Legislature, he said.
Kishan Reddy said that none of 14 classes of Muslims which are included in BC-E category were associated with their professions. He said only one or two persons in one lakh population could be counted with their profession-based caste.
However, he said that the State Government prepared a report on the socio-economic backwardness of those castes using fictitious figures. He said that the State Government has tried to provide reservation to almost 100% of the community and this would not withstand in the court.
The BP leader said that the 12% Muslim reservations were so faulty that even Deputy Chief Minister Mahmood Ali, MIM MLAs and other rich and elite could also gain from them.
He said even the elite and creamy layer have been included in the reservation net. He said similar attempts to provide reservation on the basis of religion have failed in the past and this time too, the courts would not permit such reservations.
Kishan Reddy also claimed out that the Sudhir Commission and BC Commission had recommended enhancement in quota of BC-E category by 6%. But the State Government increased it by 8%. Therefore, he said the Reservation Bill would not withstand legal scrutiny.
The BJP leader said that his party would make religion-based quota a major issue in the next elections. (INN)