New Delhi, April 16: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday dismissed calls for providing reservation to Muslim women, stating in Parliament that the Constitution does not allow quotas based on religion.
Addressing members during a special parliamentary session, Shah criticised remarks made by Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav, describing them as inconsistent with constitutional provisions. He asserted that extending reservation to any community purely on religious grounds would be unconstitutional and therefore cannot be considered.
The discussion followed Yadav’s statement that his party would withhold support for the proposal unless adequate representation was ensured for women belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs), other backward groups, and Muslim women. The exchange took place amid ongoing deliberations on the framework for implementing women’s reservation in legislative bodies.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also weighed in on the matter, emphasising that demands for reservation should not be framed on religious lines. He said the focus of discussions should remain on empowering women from all sections of society across the country.
