"Though it's late, but we welcome decision": Nizam Baba on Karnataka's 4% minority quota

"I am very happy. I would like to welcome the government's decision to provide 4 per cent reservation for the 2B section of the Muslim community....but it was a long-standing demand by this community, other communities got reservations since 2017-18, we should also have gotten reservation in 2017-18 itself. Though it's late, but we welcome the decision of the cabinet. In 2025, we got 4 per cent of the reservation. That will help the weaker section to grow...I would like to demand the cabinet that they should extend this to other sections of the society as well," Nizam Baba told ANI on Saturday.

Earlier, Maulana Sajid Rashidi, President of the All India Imam Association (AIIA) said that it was not a good idea to provide "concession" in the name of religion. Instead, he added, reservations should be given to those who are in need of the same.

"I don't think it is good to give concession in the name of religion. There should be no reservations on the basis of religion. No concession should be given to contractors in the name of religion. You should look at those who need it. Those who are poor should be given reservations regardless of their religion - be it Muslim, Hindu, Jain, Sikh, etc," Rashidi said.

The decision was taken on Friday in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the Cabinet Hall of the Vidhan Sabha. Official sources added that the amendment will be made after the KTPP act is tabled in the ongoing assembly session.

Speaking to ANI, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday clarified that the state government's decision to provide a four per cent reservation in government contracts is not exclusive to Muslims but extends to all minority communities and backward classes.

"Four per cent reservation is not just for Muslims but all minority communities and backward classes," he said. (ANI)