‘Muslim reservation will lead to creation of another Pakistan’
From Omer Farooq (Our correspondent)
20 June 2005
HYDERABAD — Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP leader Babu Lal Gour has said that reservations for Muslims in the country will lead to creation of another Pakistan.
Gour, who was on a day’s visit to Hyderabad, was responding to the decision taken by the Andhra Pradesh government which has ensured five per cent reservations to Muslims in education and jobs.
“This is a politically motivated decision, which will lead to people demanding a homeland for themselves. This is an attempt to divide the country and it is wrong. We are totally opposed to this,” he said.
Gour said that giving reservations to Muslims was no different from Mohammed Ali Jinnah’s demand for the division of the country.
“What is the two-nation theory? He said Hindus and Muslims are separate nations. This is a historical fact and we should take a lesson,” he said.
Gour said that the Constitution gives reservations only to the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and backward classes.
Gour said singing Vande Mataram in all government offices and schools in Madhya Pradesh would become compulsory from July 1. “This will create nationalist and patriotic feelings and bring discipline among government employees and students,” he added.