"Deviation from Constitution cause for concern": BJP targets Siddaramaiah govt over Muslim reservation announcement in budget

Addressing a press conference, BJP National Secretary Anil K Antony said, "In 2023, the Bharatiya Janata Party led the state government in Karnataka, which scrapped a 4 per cent reservation reserved for the Muslim community due to unconstitutionality. However, after the Congress government came back to power, the reservation was reintroduced in the budget, with 4 per cent reservation in every government contract under Rs two crore in every key department."

"This deviation from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution, which he despised, is a cause for concern. The Bharatiya Janata Party urges the state government to reverse these appeasement-driven steps," Antony said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday confirmed that 4 per cent of public works contracts will now be reserved for Muslims under a category called Category-II B, while presenting Karnataka government's Budget.

Reservation will be provided in the procurement of goods and services under various government departments, corporations, and institutions for suppliers belonging to SC, ST, Category-I, Category-II A, and Category-II B, up to Rs 1 crore, in which Category-II B refers to Muslims.

BJP leader Amit Malviya strongly opposed the decision, saying it undermines the rights of Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) as laid out in the Indian Constitution by Ambedkar. Malviya argued that providing reservations based on religion is unconstitutional and that such measures should not be allowed.

BJP has accused Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of presenting a "Halal Budget," labelling it as a form of appeasement at its peak. The party criticised the Budget for focusing heavily on provisions aimed at benefiting the Muslim community, while overlooking the needs of other marginalised groups such as SCs, STs, and OBCs. (ANI)