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Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's attempt to implement his poll promise to increase quota for Muslims and Scheduled Tribes to 12% each, might run into a road block with the Centre.
Suggesting that the plan would not get the Centre's approval, Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu stated that the BJP was against providing reservation based on religion.
"Reservation based on religion will lead to social unrest in society. Such move also paves way for formation of another Pakistan. Therefore, our government won’t allow religion-based reservation which is against constitutional norms. It is BJP’s national policy and not the policy of party’s Telangana state unit,” he was quoted as saying.
When asked if he was protesting because KCR was doing it, Venkaiah said, “We had opposed it even when YS Rajasekhar Reddy and Chandrababu Naidu tried to do it. We will oppose it, if anyone else tries it. Why? Because the reservation based on religion will lead to another Pakistan.”
Venkaiah Naidu was speaking at an event, organised for the 126th birth anniversary celebrations of Dr B R Ambedkar on Friday.
The Union Minister also pointed out that Ambedkar had opposed reservation on the basis of religion too.
This comes days after KCR announced that the state government would follow Tamil Nadu model in implementing reservations.
In a cabinet meeting at Pragati Bhavan, KCR accepted the report prepared by State Backward Classes Commission on the socio-economic conditions of Muslims and report by another panel to increase quota for tribal population.
He also announced that the hike in reservation for minorities would be done like it was done by Tamil Nadu and if the Centre does not respond positively, he will move apex court.
"Nearly 90% of Telangana's population belongs to SC, ST and OBC categories. Tamil Nadu government increased the reservation according to their population. The Parliament accepted their proposal. Telangana too will do the same,” KCR had said.
He also said that a special session of the Telangana Assembly will be held on April 16 to pass a legislation.
He said the percentage of enhanced quota will be decided by the state cabinet at a meeting on April 15.
After passing the bill, which will take the overall reservation quota in the state beyond the prescribed limit of 50%, it will be sent to the Union government for President's assent.
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