Daijiworld Media Network- Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Mar 15: The Karnataka government has approved a proposal to grant a 4% reservation for Muslim contractors in government tenders, alongside existing quotas for oppressed and backward classes. The move, which seeks to amend the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, 1999, will soon be tabled in the state legislature during the ongoing budget session.

As per the amendment, Muslim contractors will be eligible for reservation in government contracts up to Rs 1 cr. Additionally, the cabinet has decided to extend the tender limit for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) from Rs 1 cr to Rs 2 cr. The decision follows persistent demands from minority leaders to extend similar benefits to Muslim contractors as those provided to SC, ST, and other backward communities.

The proposal was discussed during a cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Siddaramaiah, with the finance department finalizing the blueprint. Law and parliamentary affairs minister H K Patil has also endorsed the amendment, paving the way for its introduction in the assembly.

However, the decision has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition. Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra lashed out at the ruling Congress, calling the move "the peak of appeasement politics" and questioning why other marginalized communities were not included. He argued that economic empowerment should extend to all backward groups, not just one religious community.
“The Congress is dividing society for electoral gains. If the government was truly committed to social justice, it should have provided equal benefits to all disadvantaged communities,” Vijayendra stated.

Despite the political uproar, the Siddaramaiah-led government remains firm on its decision, arguing that the amendment will ensure greater participation of minorities in economic opportunities. With the Bill expected to be introduced in the legislature soon, the debate over its implications is likely to intensify in the coming days.