Should minorities remain backward? Karnataka CM defends quota for Muslims as PM Modi attacks 'appeasement policy'

NEW DELHI: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Monday defended his government's move to provide 4% quota for Muslims in public contracts hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the attack against the Congress accusing the grand-old-party of politics of appeasement.

At a rally in Hisar, the Prime Minister accused the Congress of going against the Constitution and alleged that the party followed a policy of appeasement which "pleased" only a few "fundamentalists" from among Muslims, while the rest of the community remained neglected, illiterate and poor.

"Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar advocated there should be no reservation on the basis of religion and the Constitution also bars it, but the Congress government in Karnataka gave reservation in tenders on the basis of religion by "snatching away" the rights of the SCs, Scheduled Tribes and the OBC," the Prime Minister said.

Siddaramaiah, however, rubbished the charge of appeasement and defended his government's decision. "To give strength to Dalits, backward classes and minorities, economically and socially, we have given reservation in contracts. First I did it (for contracts) up to Rs 50 lakh, then increased it to Rs 1 crore. Now we have made it up to Rs 2 crore -- for OBC Category 1, 2A , and also 2B which is Muslims. They (BJP) made it a big issue alleging appeasement," the Karnataka chief minister said.

"Do Muslims have strength economically and socially? Are they educated? Are they economically capable? Then why shouldn't it be done?" Siddaramaiah asked.

"Giving strength to anyone, who doesn't have the strength economically and socially -- irrespective of whoever it is in the society -- is the mission and commitment of the Congress party," he added.

Reacting to the PM's remarks, Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar said, the Congress and the government's aim is to uplift those who are not financially stable and to bring them to the mainstream, and to achieve this the party will look at every section of the society.

"Why should we snatch from anyone? Opportunity is being given to everyone, " he added countering Prime Minister's charge.

Karnataka home minister had last week said that granting 4% Muslim quota in government tenders was a conscious decision by the Congress government.

"Muslims make up 16 to 18 per cent of Karnataka’s population. Should this significant minority should continue to remain backward. Whether they are Christians, Jains, or Muslims -- these minority communities must also be brought into the mainstream along with us,” he had said.

The Karnataka government last month passed the 'Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025' reserving for Muslims 4 per cent of contracts in (civil) works valued up to Rs 2 crore, and goods/services procurement contracts up to Rs 1 crore.


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