BJP Criticizes Congress over Conditional Support from Muslim Body

The BJP claims that the Maharashtra Congress has assured a Muslim body of fulfilling demands, including a 10% reservation for Muslims and banning RSS, if the Maha Vikas Aghadi is elected. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad condemned these demands, labeling them divisive, and questioned Congress on their stance.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Maharashtra Congress of promising to meet contentious demands made by a Muslim body if the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) secures victory in the upcoming state assembly elections. Among these demands are a 10% reservation for Muslims in jobs and education and a ban on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

During a press conference at the BJP headquarters, senior leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the All India Ulama Board (AIUB) offered conditional support to the MVA, provided that leaders such as Nana Patole, Uddhav Thackeray, and Sharad Pawar adhere to their list of demands. Prasad described these demands as divisive and detrimental to national integrity.

Prasad asserted that granting religious-based quotas would violate the Constitution and impact existing reservation allocations for OBCs, SCs, and STs. He also criticized Uddhav Thackeray for betraying his party's legacy and questioned Sharad Pawar's silence on the issue, urging a reconsideration of priorities over electoral gains.

(With inputs from agencies.)