Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani on Tuesday criticised the Congress' religion-based manifesto for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
As the Member of Parliament from Gandhinagar, Mr. Advani was here on a day's visit to attend a district monitoring committee meeting.
In a brief chat with journalists, he said the Constituent Assembly had decided to give a clear “no” to religion-based reservation. In the past, reservation was not granted on the basis of religion.
The backward classes among Muslims were also extended the benefits of reservation for weaker sections. The Congress manifesto's focus on religion-based reservation was “unfortunate,” he said.
Mr. Advani denied differences within the BJP over electioneering.
“There are no differences in the party. Every leader is going as per his own convenience; as it is, there are other star campaigners in the party.” He said he was confident the party would emerge victorious in Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa.
