Clubbing Muslims with weaker sections a dangerous trend : BJP

New Delhi, May 21 (UNI) The BJP today said clubbing Muslims with the economically weaker sections as a religious group would be an ''extremely dangerous step''.

It is only Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes who figure in Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and even the exteremely backward castes did not figure in this list, Party spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

The government now wants to include Muslims as a religious group in the EWS, which would have a long-term adverse impact on the banking industry, he added.

The move would also be critical to the decision making process.

''The UPA is treading a dangerous path,'' he said.

''The BJP is not opposed to extending all help to Muslims by clubbing them with Urban and Rural Poor or as Artisans but they should not figure as a religious group,'' he asserted.

He said there were no complaints of banks discriminating against the minorities on religious grounds and it would not be proper for them to be tagged as an EWS group, a status that was denied to even extremely backward castes at the height of Mandal politics.

The report of Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee had not been discussed in Parliament and many of its figures were contradicted by National Sample Statistics Organisation (NSSO), the government arm of data collection, Mr Prasad observed.

Taking note of the statements of Sports Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar questioning the government claims, Mr Prasad said airing contradictory views was the privilege of the ministers from the ally parties.

''Now the Congress ministers are joining the race of collective irresponsibility,'' he remarked.

UNI