Digvijay Singh surprised over Akhilesh Yadav's comment on Muslim quota

Lucknow, Feb 27 (ANI): Expressing astonishment over Akhilesh Yadav's comment of extending support if the Central Government gives 18 percent quota to Muslims, ongress leader Digvijay Singh on Monday said the Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders know it very clear that reservation cannot exceed 50 percent as there was a Supreme Court capping on it.

Singh said that he was surprised to see such comments coming from a well-educated person like Akhilesh Yadav.

"I read a statement of Akhilesh Yadavji wherein he has said if the Central Government gives 18 percent reservation to Muslims then he is ready to support the Congress. I would have not been surprised if Mulayam Singhji would have given such comments, but I am surprised to see such comments coming from a well-educated person like Akhileshji," said Singh.

"For this constitutional amendment is needed and neither the Congress nor the Samajwadi Party has absolute majority," he added, while emphasizing that the Samajwadi Party leaders know it that reservation cannot exceed 50 percent as there was a Supreme Court capping on it.

Digvijay Singh said when the Congress Party was in power in the states of Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, quota was given to the minorities on account of social and educational backwardness, but not on religious grounds.

"When the UPA Government was formed in 2004, Sachar committee was constituted to examine the social and educational and economic backwardness of the Muslim minorities and other minorities, which recommended a quota within quota for minorities communities," he said.

Digvijay Singh further claimed that the Congress Party in its manifesto in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections promised quota to minorities and fulfilled it.

Charging Mulayam Singh Yadav of making false promises to the people of Uttar Pradesh, Digvijay Singh alleged that the Samajwadi Party chief had said earlier in 1996 that he will abolish sales tax, but trade tax was introduced in its place.

The star campaigner of Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, has vowed to support the Congress Party if Muslims get 18 percent reservation. This comment has sparked the quota row once again.

In Uttar Pradesh, the stage is set for peaceful conduct of polling in 60 constituencies spread over 13 districts of Saharanpur, Meerut, Aligarh and Agra divisions on Tuesday.

The fate of 1103 candidates including 86 females will be decided in this phase.

The Uttar Pradesh polls are being viewed as an opportunity for major political parties to re-establish their foothold in the country's fifth largest and most populous state. new 403-member state assembly will be elected in March. The poll results will broadly indicate trends for the 2014 general elections. (ANI)