Rajnath warns UPA against implementing Ranganath report

Former BJP Chief Rajnath Singh today cautioned the UPA government against implementing Ranganath Mishra Commission recommendations on minority reservation, claiming that it will promote religious conversion and affect the unity and integrity of the country.

"If recommendations of the Commission are implemented it will promote religious conversion which will eventually pose threat to unity and integrity of the country. Therefore, the report should be rejected in the national interest," Singh, who recently handed over party president post to successor Nitin Gadkari, told reporters here.

The Commission, in its report, recommended 10 per cent reservation for Muslims and five per cent for other minorities. It also suggested delinking of Scheduled Caste status from religion and abrogation of the 1950 Scheduled Caste Order.

If the Commission's recommendation is accepted, Dalits converted from Hinduism to Islam and Christianity will also come under SC category and can claim benefits being given as per the Constitution, Singh said.

Terming recommendations of extending reservation on religious grounds as "anti-constitutional", he said his party was in favour of providing equal opportunity of development to all sections of the society.