BJP calls Telangana's Muslim quota bill 'communal and unconstitutional'

The party called it a move towards appeasement, which would cause social tensions

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday hit out at the Telangana government over its decision to increase by three-fold the quota for Muslims, saying the TRS dispensation was "communalising politics" and the decision will create "social tension".

Terming the decision as "unconstitutional", BJP National Secretary Muralidhar Rao said the move defies the laid down principles of affirmative action on the reservation of SC, ST and OBC, based on social and economic factors.

Both Houses of Telangana Legislature on Sunday passed a Bill which increases the reservations for Scheduled Tribes and backward sections among the Muslim community.

As per the Bill, quota for STs would be increased to 10 per cent from the existing six per cent, while that for BC-E category (the backward sections among the Muslim community) would go up to 12 per cent from the existing four.

Claiming that Muslims in Telangana have never faced social discrimination or economic deprivation, the BJP, in a statement said "this decision of appeasement, based on religion, will create social tensions."

"The step is against the fundamental principles of the democracy and the unity of the nation. TRS is communalising politics out of desperation and following the Congress model of divisive politics aimed at vote bank," Rao was quoted as saying in the statement.

He said it was a "black day" for Telangana and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has malafide intentions.

The people of Telangana wishes to celebrate September 17 as Liberation day, when the state was liberated from the despotic rule of the Nizam, he said.

By opposing the public demand for Liberation day, TRS government is following the same attitude of Nizam and Razakars, he alleged.

However, he said BJP supports the empowerment of Muslims, but not on the basis of religion and as a common citizenship.

He said the BJP will fight the divisive politics of TRS based on religion.

The party also condemned the arrest of BJP Telangana state president K Laxman, state assembly floor leader Kishan Reddy and others who were protesting against the TRS government's decision.