BJP slams Karnataka’s quota for Muslim contractors; DK Shivakumar responds
BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged that the Muslim reservation in Karnataka was introduced with the full patronage and approval of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday called the Karnataka government’s decision to reserve 4% of government contracts for Muslims as “unconstitutional”, saying that the move was part of the Congress’s appeasement politics that weakens national unity.
Addressing a press conference, BJP leader and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the reservation was introduced with the “full patronage and approval” of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
“(Chief minister) Siddaramaiah neither has the courage nor the political capital to announce the reservation on his own. There is competitive vote-bank politics at play,” Prasad said.
Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, however, sought to clarify that the state government’s decision is not exclusive to Muslims but extends to all minority communities and backward classes.
Following a meeting of the Karnataka Cabinet, chaired by chief minister Siddaramaiah, on Friday, the decision to amend the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act was announced.
According to officials, the amendment will be done after the KTPP Act is tabled in the ongoing assembly session. The Cabinet has approved the presentation of the obedience in the same session, likely on Monday.
Earlier on March 7, Siddaramaiah said that 4% of public works contracts will be reserved for Muslims under a category called Category-II B while presenting Karnataka government’s Budget.
Reservation will be provided in the procurement of goods and services under various government departments, corporations, and institutions for suppliers belonging to SC, ST, Category-I, Category-II A, and Category-II B, up to ₹1 crore, in which Category-II B refers to Muslims.
Targetting the decision on Saturday, Prasad warned that the Congress’s approach to reservations was setting “new precedents” that could have broader implications.
“What is the limit to this appeasement politics? Will there be separate queues for Muslims for reservations in movies and train tickets?” he asked.
Referring to recent electoral losses faced by the Congress, Prasad stated, “Despite several defeats, they never reassess their approach.”
He also cited former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s past remark that Muslims have the “first right” over the nation’s resources and claimed that Rahul Gandhi has “even surpassed that”.
BJP leader Amit Malviya said, “The Congress government in Karnataka focuses its entire attention on just two things--corruption and appeasement politics.”
Malviya further said that India’s Constitution “does not support” implementing schemes or providing benefits based on religion. “The decisions being made by the Congress government in Karnataka in favor of a particular religious community are completely unconstitutional. Congress is the New Muslim League,” he added.
Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said, “Some political parties do politics of appeasement. But PM Modi emphasises gratification instead of appeasement.”
Responding to criticism, Shivakumar told mediapersons on Saturday, “4%reservation is not just for Muslims but all minority communities and backward classes.”
