BJP opposes muslim quota in UP manifesto

Lucknow, Jan 27: Promising sops for every section of society in its manifesto for Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, BJP on Friday opposed 4.5% reservation to minorities from the 27% quota of backward classes even as it said it was committed to the construction of a Ram Temple at Ayodhya.

The manifesto was released by senior leaders, including Uma Bharati, Surya Pratap Shahi, Kalraj Mishra, Mukhtar Abas Naqvi, Narendra Singh Tomar and Suddhendra Kulkarni at the party office here.

On questions regarding a Ram temple at Ayodhya, state president Shahi said that the party was of the opinion that Hinduism was the life substance of the country, but due to vote bank politics it was being attacked by parties, including Congress, SP, BSP and the Left.

"Construction of a grand temple is associated with the faith of crores of people of the country. Ram is the symbol of prestige, pride and dignity of the country. Unfortunately due to psuedo secularism and vote bank politics it is being opposed. BJP is committed to remove all hurdles in the path of construction of Ram temple," he said.

Releasing the manifesto, Leader of BJP Legislative Party Om Prakash Singh said that the party was opposed to religion-based reservation.

"The UPA government decision is motivated by vote bank politics and when BJP comes to power 4.5% reservation for minorities would be scrapped and 27% quota of the OBCs will be restored," he said.

In fact for welfare and development of economically weaker sections among upper caste, the party announced to constitute a Samanya Nirdhan Varg Kalyan Ayog.

"This commission will be constituted for 50% people of unreserved class, who are socio-economically backward. Arrangement of necessary reservation for them will be made," Shahi said.

The party said that it was committed to good governance and clean politics.

Offering sops to farmers, the party promised to provide loans at an interest rate of 1%, besides constitution of a Krishak Kalyan Ayog to redress their problems and a corpus of Rs1,000 crore Kisan Kalyan Kosh.

"There will be a separate budget for the agriculture sector and a new policy will be chalked out," Om Prakash Singh said.

Besides the party announced to give 24,000 annual pension to small and marginal farmers, farm labourers, weavers and workers above 65 years of age.

In a major sop the party announced to fix state advisory price of sugarcane at Rs 300 per quintal in the next crushing season.

PTI