Karnataka Assembly Session Set to Be Stormy Over Muslim Quota Issue

Bengaluru/Hyderabad, March 16 (Maxim News): The Congress government’s decision to introduce a 4% quota for Muslims in government tenders is expected to spark heated debates during the ongoing Karnataka Assembly budget session. The issue is likely to lead to major confrontations in both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council.

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The BJP’s national leadership has strongly opposed the move, warning of its nationwide implications. Former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, in a press conference, compared the decision to divisive measures from the past, suggesting that such policies had contributed to the partition of India.

Proposed Amendment to KTPP Act

The Congress government is pushing for an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, 1999, which would legally establish the Muslim quota in government tenders. The proposal is expected to be tabled when the session resumes on Monday (March 17).

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BJP’s Opposition and Controversy

The BJP has vowed to oppose the bill and is expected to disrupt proceedings in protest. Reacting to the government’s move, state BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra accused the Congress of pushing Karnataka towards unrest.

Adding to the controversy, Minister for Waqf and Housing Zameer Ahmed Khan recently directed officials to ensure reservations for Muslims, intensifying the backlash from the opposition.

The BJP, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), condemned the move, alleging that “Karnataka’s Minority Welfare Minister B.Z. Zameer Ahmad Khan is considering increasing Muslim reservation to 10%, a blatant violation of Supreme Court rulings, which have repeatedly stated that reservations cannot be based on religion.”

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The party further questioned the Congress’s stance on social justice, asking:
“Rahul Gandhi, will Congress take away reservations meant for SCs and STs to fulfill its appeasement politics? CM Siddaramaiah, is your idea of social justice taking away opportunities from the most deprived to favor your vote bank?”

CM Siddaramaiah’s Justification

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced the reservation for Muslims in government contracts in the state budget for the financial year 2025-26. While he did not explicitly name any community in his speech, the budget listed Category IIB, which exclusively includes Muslims.

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He explained that under the KTPP Act, reservations for SC, ST, Category-I, Category-IIA, and Category-IIB contractors in public works will be increased to ₹2 crore. Additionally, reservations for the procurement of goods and services in various government departments and institutions will be provided up to ₹1 crore for these categories.

BJP’s Plans to Intensify Protest

As the budget session continues, BJP leaders are gearing up to oppose the bill and challenge the Congress-led government over the Muslim quota in tenders. (Maxim News)

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