Advani charges UPA Government with changing the Constitution

Kochi, Apr.26 : Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L K Advani today charged the UPA Government with bringing two major deviations in the Constitution -- proposing reservations on religious grounds and including Dalit Christians and Muslims in the realm of SC/ST reservation.

Advani was in Kochi on a two-day visit and was addressing a meeting of state leaders of various SC/ST organisations at the Cochin Durbar Hotel in Nedumbassery near Kochi on April 26 and 27 and will release his autobiography in Kerala at a function

He added "both Pandit Nehru and Sardar Patel had described as ''historic'' the decision of the Constituent Assembly that there would be no reservation on religious basis in Independent India".

Advani said: ''I have come here to identify myself with you. Not only the BJP but even the Constitution makers are with the schedule caste and schedule tribes.''

Also present on the occasion were BJP All-India Secretary Balbir Punj, state party president P K Krishna Das, 'SC/ST Samvarana Samrakshana Prakshobhana Samiti' general convenor, P M Velayudhan and Samiti chairman M K Kunjol.

Advani later left for Kottayam to attend a function from Kochi and will return to Kochi for his book release on 27th. By Juhan Samuel

ANI