Congress, SP playing game of reservation: Gadkari

Lucknow, Jan 17: BJP National President Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday accused the Congress and Samajwadi Party of playing a game of reservation on the basis of religion for vote bank politics in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.

"The game of reservation on religious grounds is being played which will be dangerous not only for UP, but for the country," Gadkari said while talking to the reporters here.

He alleged that issue of reservation on religious grounds was being raised with an eye on UP polls.

"It is against the Constitution and the Supreme Court had said that the reservation could not exceed more than 50 per cent," he said.

The BJP president said that when debate was held in the Parliament on the issue it was pointed that a constitutional amendment would be required to get it passed by two-thirds majority.

"Congress was not in a position to get it passed by two-third majority and SP lacked the strength. It is only for vote bank politics," he alleged.

Gadkari alleged that the issue was being raised to make an attempt on how to get Muslim votes by alluring the community.

He said that while Congress has promised nine per cent quota to Muslims, SP was talking about 18 per cent.

"I want to ask that from where this 9 per cent and 18 per cent will come. Even 4.5 per cent quota for minorities has been carved out from 27 per cent reservation for OBCs. If this has to be done, it will be done by curtailing rights of OBCs," he said.

He said that the move was an injustice towards OBCs and will create rift in the society.

Gadkari said that Mayawati should also clarify her and BSP's role on the issue.

"It's an attempt to take the country towards partition for poll politics," he said.

The BJP president alleged that Congress, which had been facing defeats continuously, in a last ditch effort has made an attempt to create rift in the name of religion.

"We are not against any religion or community, but we are in favour of development for all," he said.

BJP appeals to the people to be cautious from the policies of Congress and Mulayam Singh Yadav and not fall in the trap, he said.

"It is unfortunate that Congress has forgotten that its own leaders Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Sadar Patel, Babasaheb Ambedkar and Maulana Azad all opposed religion based reservation," he said.

Gadkari alleged that SP, Congress and BSP have a tactit understanding and had been helping each other.

"Planning is on to how Congress, SP and Ajit Singh can form the next government in the state," he alleged.

He said that people have an alternative in BJP, whose strength is increasing every day and the party was getting good response.

"I want to make it clear once again that the party would not have any alliance with SP or BSP under any circumstances," he said.

On party inducting people facing corruption charges, he said that no corrupt or criminal was taken.

"As far as Kushwaha is concerned this episode is closed. He himself has written that his membership should be suspended," he said.

On Uma Bharati contesting election in UP, Gadkari said that a decision would be taken at the right time.

When asked about who would be the CM candidate, he said that polls were being contested in joint leadership and any decision in this regard would be taken by elected representatives.

Asked to comment on Army Chief V K Singh moving the Supreme Court on age row, he said that it was unfortunate and failure of the government.

"It would have been better that the government should have sorted out the issue on its own," he said.

On BJP giving tickets to party hoppers, Gadkari said that politics was game of political compulsions and contradictions.

Regarding BJP not having alliance with its NDA partner JD (U) in UP, he said that party was demanding some seats, a demand which could not be met.

PTI