Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 16: The Karnataka government's decision to grant a 4% reservation for Muslims in government tenders has sparked strong opposition from the BJP, which has accused the ruling Congress of indulging in vote-bank politics.
Former union minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad criticized the move, claiming it would have nationwide ramifications. Addressing a press conference on Saturday, he stated that the decision had the backing of Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha. "This reflects the mindset of Rahul Gandhi. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah does not have the courage to take such a step independently. This is purely an attempt to consolidate vote banks," he alleged.
Prasad further linked the move to historical events, stating, "During the freedom struggle, separate electorates and universities eventually led to the Partition of India. The Congress government’s decision is a dangerous precedent."
BJP Yuva Morcha national president and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya also condemned the reservation, calling it unconstitutional. "The Cabinet’s approval of a 4% quota for Muslims in government tenders is an attack on the Constitution and an attempt to incentivize religious conversions. Reservation has always been based on social and economic backwardness, not religion. This is a blatant gimmick for electoral gains," Surya posted on social media.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi joined the chorus of criticism, branding the move as "populist" and "anti-constitutional." "The Congress government in Karnataka is promoting a single religion to further its vote-bank agenda. It has abandoned its duty to protect all communities. This will push the state towards economic distress while jeopardizing overall development," he said. Joshi also accused the Congress of following an appeasement policy for decades, putting political gains above national interests.
State BJP president B Y Vijayendra warned that the decision could lead to social unrest. "Does the Congress believe that only Muslims are a minority? Their selective approach is causing division in society," he remarked.
Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka pointed out that the Congress-led state government had already allocated Rs 150 crore for Waqf property restoration, Rs 500 crore for Urdu schools, and Rs 1,000 crore for minority colony development. "Now, they have granted reservations to Muslims based on religion, something that Dr B R Ambedkar’s Constitution does not permit," he asserted.
Ashoka further noted that Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan had been advocating for increased reservation, prompting the Jain community to prepare for protests. "While Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh communities have been allotted only Rs 10 crore in total, the Congress government has prioritized one group, leading to allegations of discrimination within minority communities," he added.
The Karnataka Cabinet has reportedly approved the reservation under an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, 1999. The proposal seeks to provide a 4% quota in government contracts up to Rs 1 crore for Muslim contractors. Additionally, the reservation limit for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) has been raised from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore.
Minority leaders had requested a provision similar to that available for SCs, STs, and Other Backward Classes, leading the government to consider and approve the move. The proposal will be introduced as a Bill in the ongoing Budget session of the State Legislature.
The Karnataka government has defended its decision, stating that it aims to provide equitable opportunities in public contracts. However, with the BJP determined to oppose the policy, the issue is likely to escalate into a major political confrontation.