Quota will lead to creation of another Pak: Venkaiah

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu says the BJP is against religious-based reservations whether it is in Telangana or Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad: Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said implementation of reservations on the basis of religion may result in social unrest in the country and "lead to creation of another Pakistan."Speaking at a BJP meeting organised on the occasion of the Ambedkar Jayanthi, Venkaiah Naidu also hinted that Telangana State’s recent proposal to hike reservations for certain sections may not be constitutionally valid.

He also said that architect of Constitution B R Ambedkar had opposed religion-based reservation. "We are not opposing (reservation on religion basis) because KCR (Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao) wants to implement it," he said, adding, "the BJP opposed such a move even when Y S Rajasekhar Reddy (late Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh) and N Chandrababu Naidu (present Chief Minister) also tried to do that. "We will oppose any such move because it will lead to creation of another Pakistan. It is an all India policy of the BJP.

It is not the policy of Telangana unit of the BJP," he said. The BJP is against communal reservations. "Communal reservation will divide people on the communal basis. It will give demand to another partition of the country. It will bring disunity among the people. Social disruption will also caused by that," he said. Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao recently said his government would convene the Legislative Assembly on April 16 to pass a bill to increase quotas to the STs (Scheduled Tribes) and backward sections among Muslims.

KCR further said resolution once passed by the State Assembly would be sent to the Centre for its consent. He also warned that in the event of Centre’s descent, the State government may approach the Supreme Court. The Union Minister also clarified that his party is not against Muslims. "Reservations that are offered based on social status and backwardness (in any religion) is recognised by the Constitution. Any deviation from that will not stand before the Constitution," he said. "The BJP is in favour of reservation for those socially backward and were discriminated against.