- विज्ञापन -
Bengaluru: The Congress government’s decision to allocate a four percent quota for Muslims in government tenders is expected to spark intense debate during the ongoing budget session of the Karnataka Assembly. The issue is set to cause a significant uproar, with the BJP strongly opposing the bill and planning to disrupt proceedings in both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
The Karnataka government intends to amend the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, 1999, to introduce the Muslim quota during this session, which will resume on March 17. The BJP, led by state President B.Y. Vijayendra, has criticized the move, claiming it could lead to violence and create division. The BJP also condemned Minister for Waqf and Housing Zameer Ahmad Khan’s directive to officials regarding the Muslim quota, calling it a violation of Supreme Court rulings that prohibit reservations based on religion.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had announced the inclusion of Muslims in the state budget for the financial year 2025-26, referring to them under Category-IIB. While he did not mention any specific community, the budget allocated reservations for contractors and suppliers from various communities, including Muslims. The reservation will apply to government contracts up to Rs 2 crore and to the procurement of goods and services up to Rs 1 crore.
The BJP, led by Amit Malviya, has criticized the move, accusing Congress of appeasement politics and questioning whether it would undermine opportunities for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Malviya also highlighted that the move could affect the social justice system, calling it an attempt to favor a particular vote bank.
In response, Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar clarified that the four percent reservation was not solely for Muslims but would also benefit other minorities and backward communities. He emphasized that the reservation would only apply to contracts worth up to Rs 2 crore and assured that no rights would be taken away from others. He also asked, “Don’t they also deserve a livelihood?”
As the session continues, state BJP leaders are gearing up to strongly oppose the bill and launch attacks on the Congress government over this controversial issue.
