Hoping to win over the sizeable non-Yadav backward castes in Uttar Pradesh,the BJP is going all out to highlight the unfair treatment meted out to OBCs by the UPA governments decision to carve out 4.5 per cent quota for minorities out of the 27 per cent reservation for them. Speaking at a party programme here today,Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said UPA decision not only translated into a clear encroachment into the rightful share of OBCs quota but was also unconstitutional as it was essentially targeted at Muslims in the name of minorities. Though the BJP has always supported reservations as it helps the weaker sections to become strong,it has always opposed reservations on basis of religion. People of different religions,Hindus and Muslims,all figure in the OBC list, Jaitley said,adding that the BJP was open to making further provisions for the most backward classes and those who are socially and educationally backward within this quota,but reservation for minorities is not acceptable. Other than the BJP,no party is ready to speak about this.Constitution does not allow reservation on religious basis. The BJP will oppose this. Those whose share is being taken away should be heard, he said. The BJP approach clearly showed that the partys strategy to focus on non-Yadav OBC castes remained unchanged notwithstanding the controversy over the induction of tainted former BSP minister Babu Singh Kushwaha. The BJP calculations are that it will need the support of a section of the OBCs to supplement the upper castes that have been its traditional vote-base,if the party has to improve its performance in UP. Among the non-Yadav OBC castes,the party is eying the Lodhs,Kushwahas,Mauryas and Koeris. Jaitley also took digs at the Congress for its strained relations with ally TMC and how the party was now looking towards SP and BSP for a future alliance in UP and at the Centre to save its government.
