Quota based on religion did not cross our minds: Sharad Pawar

KOLHAPUR: NCP (SCP) chief Sharad Pawar said on Thursday that giving reservations on the basis of religion had not crossed the minds of INDIA bloc politicians, adding that the alliance categorically disapproved of the idea of reservation on the basis of religion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking in a rally in Gujarat on Wednesday, said that under the caste-census, the INDIA bloc would expand the reservation quota and grant reservation to Muslims.The prime minister had said that he would not let that happen so long he was alive, describing it as a dirty game.
Addressing press conference on Thursday in Kolhapur, Pawar said the prime minister was coming up with twisted ideas such as reservation for Muslims, Congress snatching mangalsutra etc, which were not discussed in INDIA bloc meetings nor mentioned in the manifesto.
Pawar said, "The idea of reservation on the basis of religion has never touched our minds. We disapprove the idea totally. If somebody tries, even if Modi tries, we will resist."
On Modi targeting the socio-economic census that the INDIA bloc had proposed to carry out, Pawar said that it would be done to understand where the smaller communities stand, and the picture should come to the fore before the country. "We insist on doing this because we want smaller communities to be brought in the process of development. For that we need to understand their population, where they reside and few more things," said Pawar.
Modi recently accused INDIA alliance, saying that if INDIA alliance does not have any PM face then alliance leaders will plan to change the prime minister every year if it wins. Pawar said that there is no need to worry who will be PM after INDIA wins.
Pawar said, "We have discussed no such thing. I don't know how Modi comes up with such ideas. There was no discussion regarding PM face during INDIA meetings. In 1977, under Jay Prakash Narayan's clarion call, all opposition united to defeat Congress. The opposition parties later sat together and name of Morarji Our role will be to stay strong behind the leader to ensure that the govt remains stable and completes five-year tenure. Modi is day-dreaming about new PM every year, it is in his mind not ours," said Pawar.
When asked whether opposition is trying instil fear in the minds of people over his repeat narrative of 'Modi becoming Putin' (Russia's president) and Modi will change the Constitution to remain in power forever, Pawar said, "His behaviour so far, the decisions taken so far shows that we need to be alert. I will not directly say that he will definitely become Putin like, but leaders and people should be alert."
Pawar said that Sangli remained an exception in the seat-sharing discussion as Shiv Sena (UBT) declared the seat without discussion. "It is just one such decision among 48 Lok Sabha seats. We saw the candidate declared in the evening on television. We started searching who is the candidate what is his contribution. However, we approved the decision after many yes and nos," said Pawar.