BJP opposes Muslim reservation in jobs:Joshi

Jalpaiguri (WB), Feb 1 (PTI) Senior BJP leader, MurliManohar Joshi today said his party strongly opposed WestBengal Government''s decision on ten per cent reservation forMuslims in jobs.

"West Bengal Government''s decision on Muslim reservationis unacceptable. We shall oppose it tooth and nail.

Reservation on religious line is unconstitutional too," Joshitold a rally at Ashighar, 45 km from here.

"We are opposed to any reservation either on religion oron castes. Reservation should be given to the poorest ofthe poor irrespective of caste and religion," Joshi said.

Apparently with an eye on elections in the state, WestBengal government last year in February announced 10 per centjob reservation for Muslims under the OBC category.

Referring to the political situation of the state, Joshisaid both the ruling and opposition parties had resorted topolitics of violence. "It is unfortunate that poor farmers arekilled in the state," he said without mentioning the January 7Netai village massacre.

Joshi said the 35-year rule of Left Front government hadpulled down Bengal to the nadir of non-performance. "It is ashame for the Marxists that they have thrown once thrivingBengal to out of the development map of the country."

About price rise, he said, it was not fair for TrinamoolCongress chief to remain quiet on price rise when she was animportant ally of UPA-II.

Turning to Congress, Joshi said, the party had become astorehouse of corruption. "Shamelessly they defend the loot ofpublic money in several sectors. And the perpetrators areallowed to go scot free," he said.

Joshi came here on the party''s ''Nabajagaran Rath''. PTICOR PR