| In a move aimed at winning back upper caste votes in states like Uttar Pradesh which go to polls in 2007, BJP President Rajnath Singh made this demand in his maiden speech to the BJP National Executive after taking over as party president early this year. |
| While Singh said the party supported reservations and would vote for any Bill on the issue, he charged the UPA government with creating social tensions. |
| "Merit should be protected too," he said. "The BJP had supported the Constitution amendment (93rd) to provide reservations in higher educational institutions. However, while doing so, any attempt at divisiveness must be avoided. Social fabric of the society must not be damaged," Singh said. |
| Asserting that consensus-building was a must for such initiatives, he alleged that the UPA government had "failed on that score." |
| "The government must ensure while implementing reservations that space for merit is not squeezed and excellence of institutions is not compromised. Efforts must be taken to ensure that the benefits of reservation reach the most deprived," he said. |
| "The government must ensure that economically weaker sections among the upper castes are also given the benefits of reservation," he added. |
| Apparently rattled by defiance and desertions by some senior leaders in the recent past, he warned that indiscipline would be dealt with a firm hand. "Otherwise, we too are destined to meet the fate of other parties," Singh said. |
| The BJP chief also attacked the UPA government for its alleged failures during its two-year tenure. |
| "Because of an incapable and ineffective leadership, numerous problems have raised their head in the last two years. The country has suffered a lot on economic, political and social spheres. The kind of damages inflicted on national security, dignity of the Constitution and international standing during the UPA rule is unprecedented in the history of Independent India," he said. |
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