Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad on Tuesday sparred over the issue of reservations for Muslims, with Mr. Modi accusing the Opposition of being unable to look “beyond appeasement” after Mr. Prasad had supported the idea of reservation for Muslims.
Hours later, Mr. Prasad clarified that he was in favour of extending reservation benefits to Muslims on the basis of social backwardness and “not on the basis of religion”.
The issue of reservation and the Constitutional provisions have headlined the election campaign of both the INDIA bloc and the NDA so far. While the INDIA bloc leaders have argued that the BJP is seeking a tally of 400 plus seats in the Lok Sabha to end reservations to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, the BJP has argued that the Congress wants to snatch reservations from SC, STs and OBCs to include Muslims.
