Information and Broadcasting minister M Venkaiah Naidu today categorically said the BJP will not support reservations based on religion. Speaking at a public meeting held in Hyderabad to celebrate the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar, he said the party will support all reservations based on backwardness.
He said Dr Ambedkar opposed providing reservations on the basis of religion saying it will divide people. Referring to the proposed reservations for backward minorities in Telangana, the Minister questioned the opposition the responsibility for minorities remaining backward lies with those parties which ruled the country for the past 60 years.
Stating that Dr Ambedkar is the most powerful voice against inequality and injustice, Mr Naidu said the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is implementing several welfare programmes in line with the principles of Dr Ambedkar.
Stating that no political party is in a position to ignore his principles he recalled various initiatives that the government has taken up for uplifting the downtrodden like Jan Dhan, Mudra and Demonetisation.
