Patna: The BJP seems desperate to clear the air on reservation and is willing to take on political opponents in an open debate on the issue.

Bihar BJP president Nityanand Rai on Sunday threw an open challenge to those alleging that the BJP wants to do away with the quota system.

"I am open to an open debate at any place with leaders of political parties who level such charges at us. I am even willing to go to their home to debate this issue," Rai said.

He was speaking at a programme organised by Rashtrawadi Kushwaha Parishad, an organisation headed by BJP MLC Suraj Nandan Kushwaha, as part of the 2,323rd birth anniversary function of Mauryan Emperor Asoka.

Rai accused the Opposition parties of putting hurdles in the Narendra Modi government's efforts to strengthen the system that protects the rights of the backward communities.

Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi too claimed that when rural local body elections were held in Bihar in 2003, those running the state didn't give reservation to Dalits and Extremely Backward Classes. He also reminded the audience about BJP natyional president Amit Shah's assertion that the party would never allow any tinkering with the reservation issue and it will not let others do it either.

A BJP insider revealed that the party had learnt the importance of the quota issue the hard way in the 2015 Bihar Assembly elections.