Farmers Movement Archive

‘BJP opposes inclusion of Muslims in OBC list’

The BJP is opposed to inclusion of Muslims in the list of Other Backward Classes (OBC), national president of BJP’s OBC Morcha Laxman said here on Wednesday. Mr. Laxman, who was in Mysuru in connection with the two-day State executive meet of the BJP’s Backward Classes Morcha, told reporters that the founding father of Indian Constitution Dr. B.R. Ambedkar had made it clear that reservation should be extended only to socially-discriminated and economically-backward sections of society. Hence, reservation cannot be extended on religious grounds, Mr. Laxman said, while justifying his opposition to including Muslims in the list of OBCs. 10% reservation The Centre has come forward to provide 10% reservation to economically poor from all castes, he said. In pursuit of his slogan ‘Sab Ka Saath Sab Ka Vikaas’, Prime Minister Modi was introducing schemes meant to benefit the economically poor among even the forward communities besides socially-discriminated people, Mr. Laxman said. The State executive meet will discuss not only programmes pertaining to backward classes, but also create awareness among people about the “historical decisions taken by the Modi government,” he said. Presently, Muslims figure in the list of OBCs in both the State and Central lists for their social and economic backwardness. On farm Bills While referring to the farm Bills passed by the Centre, Mr. Laxman said the new laws that aimed at protecting farmers from the clutches of middlemen were being resisted by vested interests in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Akali Dal, the Congress in Punjab, and many other regional parties.

The Hindu

2020-12-17

MYSURU,KARNATAKA