Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has affirmed that the state will continue to provide four percent reservation for Muslims, despite ongoing debates over religion-based reservations, according to media reports.
Addressing an election rally, Reddy criticized former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for his alliance with the BJP, which opposes the 4% Muslim reservation. Reddy stated, “Come what may, 4% Muslim reservations will remain, and that is the final word of the YSR Congress Party.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed opposition to reservations based on religion, emphasizing that reservation benefits should reach all poor individuals, irrespective of their religion.
In an interview with Times Now, Modi stated, “I have never said that Muslims won’t get reservations. All I’m saying is that religion cannot be the basis for providing reservation. The poor in the country include Hindus, Christians, Parsis; all should get the benefits of reservations.”
Modi highlighted the historical injustices faced by Dalits and tribals and the constitutional provision for reservations to address these injustices. He emphasized that reservations based on religion were considered detrimental to society during the drafting of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, despite Modi’s stance against religion-based reservations, the BJP’s ally in Andhra Pradesh, the TDP, has promised to provide 4% reservation to the Muslim community in the state.
TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu affirmed, “From the beginning, we have been supporting 4% reservation for Muslims, and that will continue.”
