VHP oppose sub-quota for Minorities

VHP today demanded withdrawal of sub-quota for minorities within the OBC quota saying the move will cause social unrest across the country.

"We oppose and demand scrapping of reservation to Muslims within the 27 per cent OBC quota approved by the Union Cabinet as religion-based reservation is violative of the Constitution. Muslim and Christians should not be given reservation," VHP International General Secretary Dinesh Chander told reporters here today.

"It would divide the society on the basis of caste and religion and cause social unrest in the country. It is dangerous," he said.

The party also sought rejection of the recommendations of the Sachar Commission.

A cabinet meeting chaired by Premier Manmohan Singh last week set aside a 4.5-per-cent share for minorities within an existing 27-per-cent quota reserved for a caste grouping known as other backward classes.

Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Zoroastrians form the main minorities in India.

"The quota which has been announced was one of our main campaign promises in the 2009 national elections," Digvijay Singh, a senior leader from the ruling Indian National Congress party, told reporters in New Delhi.

The change will come into effect on January 1.

Although the constitution does not make any provision for reservations on basis of religion, nine Indian states have over recent years implemented such sub-quotas for minorities.