New Delhi, India - Amid the row over the issue of reservation for Mulsims, the Congress today opposed religion-based quota and said it favoured quotas to all backwards and would hold talks with its allies in the UPA to decide the course in the matter.
"It has always been the classical stand of the Congress. What Mr Veerappa Moily and Mr Antulay have said is not new. The party has been advocating reservation to all socially and educationally backward irrespective of any religion," party spokesman Satyavrat Chaturvedi told reporters.
Chaturvedi, who was subjected to a volley of questions in the backdrop of BJP's opposition to reservation for Muslims, however, made it clear that his party was opposed to religion-based reservation.
Noting that Congress had favoured reservation for all backwards in the party manifesto for the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, he said since the party has not come to power on its own and was part of a coalition, it would hold consultations with allies.
"There will be many other options", he said when asked whether Congress favours constitutional amendment to provide quota for backward Muslims. He said all suggestions from allies would be taken into account before taking a decision.
He said the government would also study the report of Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee which has been asked to go into the social, educational and economic status of the Muslim community.