New Delhi, Mar 24 (UNI) Parliament Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday slammed the Congress Party over the issue of Muslim reservation in Karnataka, saying,"There can be reservation on the basis of economic and social criteria, but there cannot be reservation on the basis of religious identity and affiliation."
Kiren Rijiju's remarks came after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar on Sunday said that the Congress will "amend the Constitution" to provide reservation to Muslims and other backward class in Karnataka.
"This issue was squarely rejected in 1947, when The Muslim League brought this matter to the Constituent Assembly. Sardar Patel and the rest of the members at that time rejected this question of reservation to Muslim because they all believed that there should be no reservation on religious basis according to the Constitution of India. So our constitution is secular" he added.
The Parliament Affairs Minister also sought clarification from the Congress President on the matter of reservation to muslim community in Karnataka.
"Congress Party president, and he must clear the position of congress on the floor of the house whether they are going to sack the person holding constitution position or they are going to state clearly that Congress will destroy the Constitution of India, they cannot go the both sides" he told reporters.
"We cannot take this statement lightly," the minister said, adding that the statement has not come from any ordinary party leader but from someone holding a constitutional post. Stating that it is "extremely serious", he said changing the Constitution to provide religion based reservation "cannot be tolerated".
The Karnataka State Cabinet earlier approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, which aims to provide a four percent reservation in tenders to minority contractors.
UNI JA KK