New Delhi [India], March 15 (ANI): Maulana Sajid Rashidi, President of the All India Imam Association (AIIA), on Saturday said that it was not a good idea to provide 'concession' in the name of religion. Instead, he added, reservations should be given to those who are in need of the same.

He said that contractors should not be given concessions based on religion. Rashidi asserted that reservations must be given to the poor of all religions.

'I don't think it is good to give concession in the name of religion. There should be no reservations on the basis of religion. No concession should be given to contractors in the name of religion. You should look at those who need it. Those who are poor should be given reservations regardless of their religion - be it Muslim, Hindu, Jain, Sikh, etc.,' Rashidi said.

When asked about allegations levelled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the Congress government in Karnataka, Rashidi said that every party was engaged in the politics of appeasement. He said that Congress engages in politics in the name of providing reservations to Muslims, while the BJP indulges in similar politics by opposing it.

'Every party is indulged in the politics of appeasement. BJP also does appeasement politics. Look at what happened in Sambhal. It is easy to accuse others of doing so. In today's world, only politics of hatred are successful. Congress does politics in the name of providing reservations (to Muslims), and the BJP indulges in similar politics by opposing it. Although they give benefits of schemes to Muslims, don't name Muslims,' he added.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Indresh Kumar on Saturday said that the country's progress was only possible when everyone felt like an Indian, as this would wipe out communal riots and politics based on religion.

'If we all have this feeling that we are Indian, we were, and we will continue to be - it will put an end to communal riots and politics based on religion and then only the country will move forward. No one should try to divide this nation,' Kumar told ANI.

In a veiled dig, the RSS leader accused the opposition parties of engaging in 'vote ki raajneeti (politics based on votes), saying that many parties were trying to create a divide based on religion and caste.'Because of 'vote ki raajneeti', many of the parties are against the fact that we all are Indians. Hence, they are trying to create a division based on religion and caste,' Kumar added.

His reaction comes after the state cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, which aims to provide 4 per cent reservation in tenders to Muslim contractors, official sources said.

The decision was taken on Friday in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the Cabinet Hall of the Vidhan Sabha. Official sources added that the amendment will be made after the KTPP act is tabled in the ongoing assembly session.

Speaking to ANI, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday clarified that the state government's decision to provide a four per cent reservation in government contracts is not exclusive to Muslims but extends to all minority communities and backward classes.

'Four per cent reservation is not just for Muslims but all minority communities and backward classes,' he said. (ANI)