New Delhi: Congress on August 13 dismissed as "huge political gimmicks" government's plans to bring Bills for ban on cow slaughter and statehood for Delhi ahead of the Assembly polls, even as it questioned the legislative competence of Parliament in enacting a law banning cow slaughter.

The party also came out in support of a separate reservation for poor among upper castes, saying it has been pleading for such a measure since 1991.

"We believe that Parliament has no jurisdiction on cow slaughter. We are deeply sceptical about legislative competence of Parliament on the matter," party spokesman S Jaipal Reddy told reporters.

He said Congress party had endeavoured to impose a ban on cow slaughter even before Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a party was born.

Reddy said though the party was for such a ban in principle, it was against allowing the federal structure of the country to be tampered with in view of the fact that the issue pertained to states.

On reservation to poor among upper castes, he said the party in 1991 had suggested 10 per cent separate reservation, but was struck down by the Supreme Court. Again in 2002, in the context of Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, the party's manifesto suggested the idea.

Lately, a few months ago the party-ruled government in Rajasthan decided to provide 14 per cent quota for such persons, he said adding that Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was only responding to these initiatives.

"We are ready to support a suitable legislation in this matter," he said.

PTI