Hyderabad: Amid a raging debate in Telangana on the recently conducted caste survey and the decision of the state government to pass legislation to increase reservation for Backward Castes (BCs), the BJP leaders are training their guns on Muslim reservation.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar has gone to the extent of warning the Congress government in the state that if Muslims are included in the list of BCs, the entire Hindu society will revolt.
Sanjay, an MP from Karimnagar constituency, declared that Muslims as part of BCs will be unacceptable. The BJP leader, who is known for making controversial statements, targeted Congress for implementing reservation for Muslims. He believes that including Muslims in the list of BCs deprive BCs of their rightful reservation.
His statement came after the Congress government announced that it will pass a bill in the Assembly for 42% reservations to BCs and send the same to the Centre for its approval in Parliament.
As the overall reservation can’t cross the limit of 50%, the state can’t implement enhanced BC reservation on its own without a Constitutional amendment. The Congress government wants to put the ball in Centre’s court.
Backward sections among Muslims currently enjoy 4% reservation in Telangana in education and employment. They are categorised as BC E.
Bandi Sanjay reiterated that BJP is unequivocally against religious-based reservations. “Despite being aware of this, Congress still trying to push it onto the Centre is sheer foolishness. One thing is clear, Congress lacks sincerity in implementing BC reservations. Including Muslims in the BC category will deprive BCs of their rightful reservations. If Muslims are included in BCs, the entire Hindu society will revolt. Congress will face consequences in the MLC elections. If Congress is sincere, it must remove Muslims from the BC list,” he said.
He demanded that Congress implement its promise of 42% reservation to BCs.
“As per 420 promises, BCs must be given 42% reservations. Congress is backtracking on its promises and completely deceiving BCs,” he said and urged BCs to recognise Congress’ ‘betrayal’.
When Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not born BC but is a converted BC, Sanjay dragged the issue of Muslim reservation in his reaction.
“No amount of attention diversion will work. BJP stands firm – no reservation for Muslims, and any such attempts will be foiled,” the Central minister posted on ‘X’.
Revanth Reddy had earlier stated that Modi was born in an upper caste but after he became Chief Minister of Gujarat he included his caste in the list of BCs.
