Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Mar 16: The Karnataka Congress government’s decision to provide a 4% quota for Muslims in government tenders has triggered a major political controversy, with the BJP strongly opposing the move and gearing up for a showdown in the ongoing budget session of the state legislature.

The Siddaramaiah-led government is set to amend the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, 1999, to implement this quota, a move that BJP leaders claim will have national ramifications.

Former union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, in a press meet on Saturday, compared the decision to past divisive policies, alleging that such measures were responsible for the partition of India.

State BJP President B Y Vijayendra accused the Congress of pushing Karnataka towards violence. Meanwhile, Karnataka minister for Waqf and Housing, Zameer Ahmad Khan’s directive to officials regarding Muslim reservations has further escalated tensions. The BJP slammed the move on social media, alleging that the Congress government was violating Supreme Court rulings by attempting to increase Muslim reservations to 10%.

The BJP questioned the Congress’ commitment to social justice, claiming that the ruling party was indulging in appeasement politics at the cost of SC/ST communities.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while announcing the state budget for 2025-26, introduced a reservation for Category-IIB, which includes Muslims, in government contracts. Under the revised provisions of the KTPP Act, SC, ST, Category-I, Category-IIA, and Category-IIB contractors will now be eligible for public works up to Rs 2 cr. Similarly, government departments and institutions will allocate procurement contracts worth up to Rs 1 cr under these categories.

BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya accused the Congress of openly granting religious-based reservations in violation of constitutional provisions. However, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar refuted the claims, stating that the 4% quota was not just for Muslims but for minorities, including Christians, Jains, Parsis, and Sikhs.

“No contract above Rs 2 cr is covered under this reservation. We are not taking away anyone’s rights. Don’t they deserve a livelihood too?” Shivakumar questioned.

With the Congress standing firm on its decision and the BJP preparing for aggressive opposition in the legislature, the issue is set to become a major flashpoint in Karnataka politics.