Hubballi (Karnataka), Apr 15 (UNI) Senior BJP leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy on Tuesday alleged that the Congress party was using the Muslim community as a mere vote bank, and warned that attempts to portray Muslims as the most backward group in the country could cost them their constitutional benefits as a minority.

Responding to a question on caste survey report, Narayanaswamy said that while the Constitution allows providing facilities to all communities, reservations are governed by specific provisions and cannot be extended arbitrarily.

"Every community has its own set of challenges and can be provided support, but reservation is a constitutional matter with defined parameters. Targeting minorities on this issue is based on a wrong understanding," he said.

The Senior BJP leader pointed out that the Lingayat and Dalit communities, previously identified as most backward, have now been overtaken by Muslims in the caste survey. "Earlier, Dalits were at the top in terms of backwardness. Now Muslims have moved to that position. But unlike Hindu communities, which are divided into several sub-castes, Muslims remain more unified," he observed.

Narayanaswamy accused the Congress of attempting to reclassify Muslims as a majority to strip them of their constitutional protections. "If they are no longer considered a minority, they will lose all benefits that come with that status. This is a dangerous game Congress is playing. They are not helping Muslims but only using them for votes," he said.

He further demanded that if Muslims are officially declared the most backward, then their minority status should be reconsidered. "Remove the minority tag and treat them as a majority, then all special facilities must be withdrawn. That is the logical outcome," the Senior BJP leader argued.

On the issue of threat of non-implementation of the Waqf Act in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Karnataka, Narayanaswamy said some state governments were behaving as if they were outside the Indian Union. "These states are very much part of India and must follow the decisions of the Union Government. If state leaders disagree, they should resign and step aside," he said.

He concluded by saying that many politicians had not properly read the Constitution and were misguiding the public. "A proper understanding of constitutional provisions would put them on the right path," the Senior BJP leader said.

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