NDA parties differ on creamy layer issue

New Delhi, Nov 21: Conceding that the NDA parties were not unanimous on the issue of keeping out the creamy layer from the benefits of reservation for backward classes, the BJP today said the party would give its views as and when the government came out with its proposals.

Senior BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra said after the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting that his party was opposed to religion-based reservation as it was against the spirit of the Constitution.

The party would discuss the issue with other NDA parties for arriving at a consensus if it was not possible for the parties to air their views.

The Janata Dal (United) has expressed itself for including converted Dalit Muslims and Christians in the list eligible for reservation while the present law allows it for only those who opt to switch over to indigenous religious groups like Buddhism and Sikhism.

There were also different perceptions about providing reservation benefits for converted Muslims and Christians.

As far as the BJP is concerned, the party was against it because once Dalits gave up the religion and accepted class less religions like Christianity and Islam, they were out of the net of untouchability practice. ''If there is no unanimity in the NDA, the parties will be free to air their views in Parliament,'' he said.

Meanwhile, BJP Spokesman Prakash Javadekar took exception to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajashekhara Reddy writing to the Prime Minister seeking to amend the Constitution to allow Muslim reservations while it is now open for under-privileged classes.

This is his latest attempt to woo the Muslim vote bank and he deserves to be condemned for this base approach, he said. The idea of appointing Sachar Committee on status of Muslims itself was wrong because the Constitution did not allow discrimination of one or the other person on the basis of race, region and religion. The Congress should take action against Dr Reddy for violating his own party's views, he felt.

About Karnataka allowing four per cent reservation for Muslims, he said it was only a sub-quota within the OBCs and Mandal Commission on backward classes had included several Muslim groups as eligible for reservation. ''The BJP is not against reservation benefits for Muslim groups. We are only seeking the benefits to all economically backward classes, including Muslims,'' he said.

UNI

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