The Congress-led Karnataka government is reportedly considering a proposal to introduce a four per cent reservation for Muslims in civil contracts, similar to the existing quota for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes. The move has drawn sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has termed it as “appeasement politics” and against the spirit of the Constitution.
According to sources cited by news agency IANS, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led government is planning to amend the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act, 1999, to facilitate this reservation. The Finance Department has already drafted a blueprint, and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H. K. Patil has given his approval to the amendment, IANS sources said. The matter is likely to be discussed in the state cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening, and if approved, the government intends to introduce the bill in the upcoming Budget session.
The Congress government had previously amended the KTPP Act to provide 24.01 per cent reservation for oppressed communities in government tenders up to ₹50 lakh. In March 2023, the limit was extended to contracts worth up to ₹1 crore. A delegation of Muslim legislators and community leaders had earlier submitted a memorandum to CM Siddaramaiah, demanding reservation in government contracts. While the government had initially considered it, it reportedly backtracked after the issue sparked controversy.
A report by the Times of India also stated that the Siddaramaiah government is set to reintroduce the proposal.
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Karnataka BJP Slams Siddaramaiah Govt’s ‘Minority Appeasement’
BJP state president B. Y. Vijayendra strongly opposed the move, alleging that the Congress government was leading Karnataka towards “strife” with its minority appeasement policies. “The Congress government in the state has not released any funds for legislators. However, when no tender is called and work is allotted, what is the use of reservation?” he questioned, as quoted by IANS.
Criticising the Congress, Vijayendra further asked, “Does the grand old party think that only Muslims constitute the minority group?” He claimed that the government’s “minority appeasement policies of the Congress will create disturbance in society”, news agency PTI reported.
“The Congress government sees only Muslims as minorities, ignoring other genuinely marginalised minority communities,” he said.
Vijayendra also accused the government of neglecting traditional occupational communities that are struggling to survive amid modern technological advancements. “If Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is truly an Ahinda (Alpasankhyataru or minorities, Hindulidavaru or backward classes, and Dalitaru or Dalits) leader, he should have enabled marginalised communities and strengthened them economically,” he asserted.
Highlighting the plight of communities such as Madivala and Savita, Vijayendra said, “CM Siddaramaiah-led Congress government is not bringing these communities to the mainstream. Instead, the Congress government is all set for Muslim appeasement. The people will have to teach them a lesson.”
BJP leader and Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal also criticised the move, calling it “anti-Constitutional.” He remarked that B. R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, was against the concept of a minority welfare department. “The government is going against the Constitution and its basic fundamentals,” he claimed.
The BJP leaders said they would raise the issue in the ongoing Karnataka Assembly, as per PTI. The Congress government is yet to respond to the matter.
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