New Delhi, March 30 BJP MP K Laxman raised the issue of misuse of OBC reservations by some states, including Muslims in the category, in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, demanding that the government order a comprehensive review of such practices, leading to a walkout by the opposition.
Leader of the House J P Nadda also criticised the opposition for indulging in appeasement politics by using Muslims as a vote bank and said it was condemnable.
Nadda, who is also the union health minister, accused the Congress and other INDI alliance parties of disregarding the Constitution and having no faith in parliamentary practices. He condemned them for staging a walkout from the house over the issue.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Laxman alleged that some states, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, and Telangana, have included Muslims in the OBC category to provide them with reservations.
He said that the Constitution does not provide for reservations on religious grounds, and B R Ambedkar had clearly stated this.
"Unfortunately, OBCs who are socially and educationally backward, their reservations are now being misused in the name of religion. Reservations are being given on the basis of religion against the mandate of our Constitution," he said, amid noisy protests by the opposition.
The BJP MP alleged that for vote bank politics, some states are extending these reservations meant for OBCs on religious grounds particularly to Muslims.
"In Karnataka, the entire Muslim community of the state is treated as one caste, without an OBC list, and given 4 per cent reservation exclusively for Muslims. In West Bengal, about 97 per cent of Muslim communities have been included as OBCs, and depriving the mainly backward communities of their rightful share.
"In Tamil Nadu, Muslim groups in the OBC list cover nearly 95 per cent of the Muslim population, with 3.5 per cent reservation for backward class Muslims. In Kerala, Muslim is listed as a caste in the OBC list, and their reservation has been raised from 3 per cent to 12 per cent," Laxman claimed.
In Telangana, he said, apart from Muslims who are included in OBCs list, the Congress government has extended 4 per cent reservation exclusively for Muslims. "The high court has struck that down," he said.
Like this, the BJP leader said, reservations meant for OBCs are being misused for vote bank. In Hyderabad municipal elections, he said, Muslims are "enjoying" the reservation meant for 50 per cent OBCs.
"I humbly request the government to order a comprehensive review of such religion-based reservations. Our policy must focus on social and educational backwardness, not on religious identity alone. Only then can we can protect the true spirit of social justice," the BJP member said, urging the government to respond.
Nadda later said, "It is with regret that I must say that the Congress-led INDI alliance has no interest in democracy, nor in upholding parliamentary decorum, nor in speaking on any issue or engaging in debate, nor in adhering to the Constitution."
"They have only pursued the politics of appeasement to consolidate the Muslim vote bank. The entire Opposition is engaged in efforts to divide society and vitiate the atmosphere for the sake of their own politics," the leader of the House said.
Nadda claimed that when Laxman was speaking during Zero Hour, members of the entire INDI alliance created disruptions and did not allow him to speak.
"This is very unfortunate, as it shows they have no faith in parliamentary procedures or traditions. Secondly, they have no faith in the Constitution either," he alleged.
Nadda said for years, parties of the INDI alliance under the leadership of the Congress have engaged in vote-bank politics. "They have pursued appeasement and vote bank politics."
As Laxman pointed out, he said, there is no provision for reservation for Muslims under OBC category in the Constitution. "This is a constitutional matter, and the Andhra Pradesh High Court has struck it down," he said.
He said the opposition parties are trying to disturb the atmosphere of the country for political reasons and attempt to divide the society for their vote bank politics.
Referring to the Opposition's walkout, he said, "running away like this, opposing in this manner, is inappropriate. I condemn it."