SHIVAMOGGA, 30 APRIL 

Accusing the Congress of supporting the idea of religion-based reservation, even though it cannot be done as per Constitution, BJP President JP Nadda on Tuesday charged the grand old party with having "vicious and divisive designs".

He said this while speaking at a "professionals meet" organised here as part of the BJP's campaign for Shivamogga Lok Sabha candidate BY Raghavendra.

"In the Constitution, it is written that there is no place for religious reservation, but what they (Congress) did -- 4 per cent reservation to Muslims, from OBC quota (in Karnataka). Who is against the OBC? They are neither friends of Muslim brethren nor sympathisers of OBC," Nadda said.

He said in undivided Andhra Pradesh, Congress came out with a law four times, where they tried to take reservation of SC/ST and OBCs, to give it to the Muslim community. "We are not against the Muslim community, but we have to understand that the Constitution clearly says there will be no reservation based on religion, and it is a deep thought," he said.

Accusing Opposition parties of indulging in 'divisive politics', Nadda said, "A few days ago there was a video and they were trying to create an impression and environment that BJP is against SC/ST and OBC, and if we (BJP) come to power the reservations for these communities will go."

"They came out with a fabricated video... people and media exposed the INDI Alliance's deep fake video. The sad part of it is that the fake video was uploaded on social media from Telangana CM Revanth Reddy's phone, and all partners of the INDI Alliance tried to make it viral....they are in a deep depression about BJP and NDA crossing 400 seats under PM's leadership. This shows their mentality," he added.

Nadda said on the one hand there is BJP, which is being led by PM Modi, under whom India was becoming stronger by the day and things have changed. He said it was sad to note on the other hand, the INDI Alliance has got "no perspective, no objective and no direction." —PTI