Akhilesh doing appeasement politics: Sanjay Nishad

Lucknow: UP cabinet minister Sanjay Nishad on Wednesday accused Akhilesh Yadav of pursuing appeasement politics and attempting to dilute the rights of backward classes through religion-based reservation.

Addressing reporters in Lucknow, Nishad alleged that the “PDA alliance” agenda of the Samajwadi Party is aimed at diverting OBC reservation benefits towards Muslims. He claimed that reservation on the basis of religion was rejected by the Constituent Assembly and opposed by Dr BR Ambedkar.

“Reservation cannot be granted on the basis of the religion brought by the Mughals. Attempts to divide OBC reservation in the name of appeasement weaken the rights of backward communities,” Nishad said.

He also targeted the INDIA bloc and Congress, saying that efforts were made through the Justice Ranganath Misra Commission to carve out a share in OBC reservation for Muslims. Referring to Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, Nishad claimed backward class rights had been compromised by including Muslim communities in OBC quotas.

Warning the Samajwadi Party, Nishad said, “If appeasement politics continues, SP too will face political defeat like Mamata Banerjee’s govt in Bengal.”

He also referred to former SP MP Phoolan Devi, saying she was sidelined after raising issues related to reservation and farmers’ rights.