Karnataka Passes 4% Muslim Quota Bill Amid Chaos; BJP MLAs Tear Copies, Throw Them At Speaker

The Karnataka Legislative Assembly erupted in chaos on Friday as the ruling Congress government passed a bill granting a 4% reservation for Muslim contractors in public tenders. The move triggered a strong backlash from the opposition BJP, which called the bill “unconstitutional” and vowed to challenge it legally.

Pandemonium In Legislative Assembly 

Amid ongoing tensions over a separate honey trap scandal, BJP MLAs stormed the well of the House, climbed the Speaker’s podium, and tore copies of the bill before throwing them at Speaker U T Khader. The situation escalated further as marshals were forced to intervene, standing guard around the Speaker and catching the torn documents flung at him.

#WATCH | Ruckus erupts in Karnataka Assembly as BJP MLAs enter the Well of the House and also tear and throw papers before the Speaker’s chair

(Video source: Karnataka Assembly) pic.twitter.com/giejoDxCXF

— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025

Despite the uproar, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah continued reading his response in the Assembly, and the Bill was moved. The session also saw the passage of bills to increase salaries, pensions, and allowances for MLAs, ministers, and the Chief Minister.

Opposition leader R Ashoka led the protest, with BJP and JD(S) legislators shouting slogans against the government’s decision to allocate a 4% quota for Muslims in public contracts. Several members aggressively approached the Speaker’s podium, flinging torn copies of the Finance Bill onto his table.

Adding to the disorder, BJP MLAs displayed CDs in the House, using them as symbolic evidence while continuing their protest over the honey trap scandal. They accused the Congress government of being a “sex scam government” and a “honey trap government,” demanding a judicial probe into the alleged blackmail scheme targeting political leaders.

Despite the protests, the Congress government remained firm on its decision, passing the budget and related bills. 

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