BJP committed to backward classes: Amit Shah

Asserting that his party is committed to keep intact the rights given by the Constitution to the dalits, tribals and other backward classes, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Monday said that they did not support any amendment in the current reservation policy.

"To take focus away from development agenda, some statements are being highlighted on beef or reservation. I want to make it clear that the BJP does not support any amendment in the current reservation policy," Shah told the media here.

"The Bharatiya Janata Party is committed to keep intact the rights given by the Constitution to the dalits, tribals, backward and extremely backward classes," he added.

Highlighting the BJP's connection with the backward classes, Shah lashed out at the opposition for raising the reservation row to attract the masses of this country.

"I would also like to point out that the BJP is the only party to give OBC Chief Ministers. We have even given an OBC Prime Minister. The Bharatiya Janata Party has also made the son of a poor family the Prime Minister. Thus, we never make such issues our election agenda. Our agenda is always development," said Shah.

The BJP president's statement comes at a time when the leaders of various political parties have been highlighting the reservation issue to take potshots at each other.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had earlier this month suggested a review of the reservation policy following which RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav fired salvos at the BJP.

In his tweets and speeches, Lalu alleged that the BJP plans to scrap reservation, a strategy designed to rally the support of the backward classes in poll-bound Bihar.