The government on Monday steered clear of SP's demand for proportionate reservation to Muslims but expressed the hope that its decision to provide 4.5 per cent quota to minorities will see the light of the day despite Andhra Pradesh High Courts' rejection.
"What can I say if their party says something? A demand can be made for anything...The promise of Congress made in its election manifesto (to provide reservation to backward Muslims) is our first priority....We never talked about proportionate reservation. We never made any such promise," Minority Affairs Minister K Rahman Khan told reporters here.
He was responding to questions on Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav's demand in Rajya Sabha that Muslims should be given reservation in proportion to their population.
Published 17 December 2012, 20:05 IST