Source: Hindustan Times/Press Trust of India

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_884105,00080003.htm

On July 13, 2004 the Press Trust of India reported, "The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has strongly opposed the Andhra Pradesh Government's decision to give five per cent reservation to Muslims and demanded the order should be withdrawn immediately. 'The Andhra Pradesh Government has not only violated the Constitution but also the direction of the Supreme Court while giving five per cent reservation to Muslims,' VHP International General Secretary Praveen Togadia said. The decision is not only unconstitutional but also illegal hence VHP would oppose it till it was withdrawn, Togadia said. The decision is against the Constitution as reservation on religion basis was rejected immediately after independence and the apex court has also declared that reservation should not be more then 50 per cent. 'The Britishers 1906 decision for religion based electorate had given birth to Pakistan and this five per cent reservation to Muslims would also help some people to materialise their dream of making Andhra another Pakistan,' he claimed. By giving Muslims backward status the Andhra Government had put them at par with the status enjoyed by the scheduled caste and schedules tribes, Togadia said. The state government should instead give reservation to farmers who are committing suicide or poor Hindus or women, he added."