NEW DELHI: Amid backlash from the BJP over allegations of “appeasement politics,” Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah addressed the controversy surrounding a proposed 4% reservation for Muslims in public works contracts, stating that no action has been taken by the Karnataka government on the proposal.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Siddaramaiah said, "Got Muslim quota demand, no decision yet. BJP only does communal politics."
"They (Muslims) have made a demand. As we have provided reservations to the backward classes, SCs and STs, so they have also made a demand. But there is no discussion on that, " Siddaramaiah added further.
In response, BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan said, "The Karnataka Congress government has become a dangerous blackhole of repressive religious polarisation. The media expose of new documents has conclusively unmasked the conspiracy and yet another communal agenda of the Karnataka Congress government."
Kesavan continued, "Rahul Gandhi talks about 'nyay patra' but it is only 'nyay patra' for Muslim reservation and quota in public contracts. But when it comes to the women of Karnataka and the 'Shakti Scheme' it is 'anyay patra' because the Congress government in Karnataka is planning to scrap the free bus scheme for women. Is this the justice Rahul Gandhi talks about?"
The controversyThe issue arose Tuesday after reports suggested that the Congress government in Karnataka had proposed a 4% reservation for Muslims in civil contracts. CM Siddaramaiah publicly dismissed the proposal, but official documents surfaced soon after, indicating that the process had indeed been initiated under his directive.
Leader of the opposition in the assembly, R Ashoka, and BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal posted a government note on X (formerly Twitter), showing that Siddaramaiah had approved an amendment to the 6th Schedule of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act.
This amendment seeks to reserve 4% of government contracts valued up to Rs 1 crore for Muslims, following a request from the CM’s political secretary Nasir Ahmed and several MLCs.
Ashoka accused the chief minister of “messing up things first and then telling lies,” commenting on X that this pattern has become “routine these days” for Siddaramaiah.
Yatnal echoed the criticism, calling the CM’s denial part of a “series of falsehoods” and citing public documents that allegedly confirmed Siddaramaiah’s direct recommendation to amend the Act.
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