Mayawati demands reservation for Dalit Muslims and Christians

Patna, Feb 6 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP supremo Mayawati today demanded reservation for Dalit Muslims and Christians in government services without affecting the interests of those enjoying the same in prevalent practice.

While addressing a rally here, Ms Mayawati said she had also written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urging him to ensure reservation for Dalits in Muslim and Christian communities.

''In prevalent practice, Scheduled Castes(SCs)and Scheduled Tribes (STs) avail 22.5 reservation facilities in government services and provision for separate reservation should be made for Dalit Muslims and Christians in a way that interests of those presently getting the reservation benefits do not get hurt'', she maintained.

Ms Mayawati alleged that Congress, BJP and their allies exploited the Dalits, backwards and other oppressed classes of the society for political gains and did nothing to ameliorate their conditions in the last sixty years of indepence.

'' How can these political parties afford to make policies in the interest of the oppressed and backward classes of the country as they come to power using funds provided by the big industrial houses of the country during elections,'' she said adding that the BSP did not accept donations from industrial houses and capitalists and instead run the party on contribution from its workers.

The BSP supremo said she had directed the private entreprenurs enjoying some sort of government assistance to provide 10 per cent reservation each to SCs, STs, OBC-minorities and the poor in Uttar Pradesh.

The private parties had also been directed to continue the existing reservation policies in accordance with the government rules if they take over the government institutions, she added.

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