Rahul indulging in communal politics: BJP

Lucknow, Jan 12: The BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of indulging in communal politics, saying that it was at his "insistence" that the government proposed a sub-quota of 4.5 per cent for minorities within the existing 27 per cent reservation for other backward classes.

"Rahul is not here for development of the state, but he is here to do politics of religion.

His politics is of hatred and vitiating the atmosphere," BJP vice-president Kalraj Mishra told reporters. He stated that Rahul, while starting his election campaign from Phoolpur, had said he was here to do politics of development and not of religion, "but in reality his election campaign started with promoting division."

"The sub-quota to minorities means curtailing the right of OBCs. This is constitutionally wrong," he said. Accusing Congress of indulging in politics of hatred, the BJP leader alleged that the party is now advocating 9 per cent reservation for Muslims. "The statement given by Union Law Minister about 9 per cent reservation on religious ground is sad. This is betrayal of the OBCs," he alleged.

Mishra said, "It was unfortunate that SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, who terms himself to be a symbol of OBCs, and Mayawati, who calls her symbol of Dalits, were keeping mum on the issue."

"This is an effort to distract the attention of the people from the issue of corruption, inflation, unemployment, good governance and development," he said. The BJP leader said reservation on religious ground was a conspiracy to demolish democracy.

PTI