BJP asks Cong govt to drop reservation for Muslims

Hyderabad, Oct 18 (UNI) Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu today urged the Congress government not to go ahead with 'religion-based' reservation for Muslims as it was ''unconstitutional.'' Addressing a press conference here, he alleged that despite the reservation law struck down by the courts, the government was mulling with the idea on the lines of Tamil Nadu, due to vote bank politics.

Even if a law providing for five per cent quota in educational institutions and employment was enacted and included in the IX Schedule of the Constituion in a bid to take it away from the purview of a judicial review, the court was sure to strike it down also as it would amount to changing the ''basic structure of the Constitution,'' he opined.

On Congress announcement to launch a 'legal battle' to achieve reservation for Muslims, the BJP leader felt any agitation in this regard would be futile as it was unconstitutional to provide religion-based reservation.

UNI SM ROY MS DS1620