UP BJP leaders express apprehension over quota bill

"This Constitutional amendment will disturb social harmony and lead to more dissent in the society in the days to come. So before it is taken up for voting in the Lok Sabha tomorrow, all the members should review the matter," BJP state spokesperson Satyadev Singh told reporters here.

Singh appealed to the Lok Sabha members to reconsider their stand on the issue and cast their vote only after taking into account its "outcomes in the longer run".

Training his guns at the Congress, Singh claimed that the already existing reservation for SCs/STs in government jobs has not benefited those who needed it, and blamed the Centre for the "failure".

Deputy Leader of the Party in the Assembly Satish Mahana also expressed apprehension over outcomes of the amendment, and said he has apprised the party leadership about his and his party workers' reservations.

"It is my duty to apprise the central party leadership about my view and that of all party workers, and I have already told them about it," Mahana said.

He, however, said he will stand by whatever stand the party leadership takes on the matter.

The anti-quota government employees of the state have also taken a strong exception of BJP's stand on the issue, with the agitating workers staging demonstrations outside the party office in the capital today.