Kamal Ghorui
New Delhi: Union home minister Amit Shah seized on Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav’s demand for quota for OBC and Muslim women to hammer home his party’s avowed opposition to reservation based on religion.He also reiterated govt’s stand that the caste of citizens will be mentioned during the ongoing census to reject SP chief Akhilesh Yadav’s claim that Centre’s decision to link women’s quota to the 2011 Census is driven by its reluctance for the same. Opposing the introduction of the Constitution amendment bill, Dharmendra said in Lok Sabha that his party will never support women’s reservation till a separate provision for quota for OBC and Muslim women is made in the law. “Dharmendra Yadav has made an unconstitutional demand. Our Constitution does not allow reservation based on religion at all. I will reiterate govt’s resolve that giving reservation to Muslims on the basis of religion is unconstitutional,” Shah said, amplifying his party’s opposition to faith-based quotas on the ground that British acquiescence to the Muslim League’s demand for a separate electorate for Muslims had encouraged calls for the creation of Pakistan. When Akhilesh stepped in to ask if Muslim women are not part of half of the country’s population, Shah said he has no objection if SP gives all its tickets to Muslims.He said house listing is being done as part of Census 2027, and caste will be counted next. “Houses have no castes. If SP has its way, then even houses will have castes.”
