Bengaluru: Reports that the Karnataka government was considering a proposal to provide 4 per cent quota to Muslims in state government contracts has drawn angry remarks from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Opposition in the state.
Terming it as a contempt of the Constitution, BJP leader Amit Malviya asked if Muslims are given this quota in Karnataka then whose share will be cut – SC, ST or OBCs?
“Siddaramaiah administration in Karnataka is evaluating a proposal to provide reservations to Muslims in public contracts for construction (civil) works. If Muslims are given this quota in Karnataka then whose share will be cut – SC, ST or OBCs? In Telangana too, Muslims have been given 4% reservations, eating into the share meant for the socially backward communities. In Maharashtra, Congress-led MVA has accepted Jinnah-like demand of the All India Ulema Board. It is all about Muslim votes for the Congress, in gross contempt of the Constitution, which precludes any religion-based reservation,” Malviya shard on X.
Is Karnataka govt really providing quota to Muslims in govt contracts?
However, the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s office was quick to make clarification on the issue and said there have been demands for reservation, but there was no such proposal.
“It’s true that there is a demand to provide reservation for Muslims in govt contracts but there is no proposal before the government right now,” reported News18 quoting Chief minister office.
What is the proposal to provide quota to Muslims in Karnataka govt contracts?
Sources had claimed that the Karnataka government was considering a proposal to provide 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in all construction (civil) contracts up to the value of Rs 1 crore. The state government has already provided 24 per cent quota to SC/ST and some backward classes in the government contracts.
At present, there is provision of 43 per cent quota in the government contracts — OBCs in Category-1 (4 %), Category-2A (15%). If the reports are true and state decides to go ahead with the proposal to provide 4 per cent quota to Muslims, the state will have a total of 47 per cent reservations.
