Bengaluru, March 21 (IANS) Amid chaos, the Karnataka Transparency in Public Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025 has been passed in the Legislative Assembly on Friday.
The Bill intends to provide 4 per cent quota to Muslims in government tenders and the move by the Congress led government has stirred a major controversy in the state.
The BJP members who had already stormed to the Well of the House registered a strong protest to the proposed act. The BJP members tore the copies of the Bill and threw it in the air and at the Chair of the Speaker. They also raised slogans inside the House.
Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka lashed out at the ruling party, saying: “It was Congress party which provoked Muslims and divided the country. Now, they are dividing the Muslims in Karnataka from the mainstream. You (Congress) are humiliating Hindus and committing atrocities on them. Hindus are being murdered in the state. They are humbled. This is a halal government.”
“The government’s bill providing 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in contract works is unconstitutional. The Constitution does not permit any form of reservation based on religion. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Constitution envisioned all religions moving forward together, but this bill is aimed at dividing the society.
“The Congress party has already divided the country once. Now, for vote-bank politics, they are attempting to appease a particular community again. This bill not only hurts the sentiments of Hindus but also takes away the rights of SC, ST, and backward-class contractors,” he asserted.
BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra criticised the Congress, saying: “The people of Karnataka have now seen the true face of the Chief Minister. Congress has been completely exposed before the state. If the state’s tax revenue is being distributed exclusively to one religion, should we remain silent and do nothing?”
Meanwhile, the delegation of BJP and JD (S) leaders reached the Governor’s residence and submitted a memorandum requesting the Governor Thaawarcahnd Gehlot to cancel or abandon the “unconstitutionally moved bill” on giving 4 per cent reservation based on religion in allotting government contract works.
“The proposed bill is about to destroy the social fabric, harmony among the religious societies,” the memorandum underlined.
“We request you to cancel or abandon the proposed KTPP (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to uphold harmonious religious fabric of the state of Karnataka. And, also request you to direct the Chief Minister and council of ministers to not to take up such unconstitutional misadventure, and without split thoughts, rather the state shall not divide the societies in the name of religions,” the BJP and JD (S) plea read.
The memorandum further stated, “It is misfortune of the state of Karnataka, and its people, to see all these anti-social, harmony destroying, nation-breaking initiatives in the name of religion based reservations. It is a settled principle of Supreme Court of India, and so also of many a High Courts that, reservation given on the basis of religion is unconstitutional and illegitimate.”
Meanwhile, CM Siddartamaiah responding to the opposition for Muslim quota stated: “Opposition leaders, including Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka, have voiced strong objections to the reservation granted to the Muslim community. Ashoka has stated that providing reservations based on religion is a mistake.
“The Human Development Index (HDI) of the general category in Karnataka is 0.644. There is a disparity of 0.274 points between the general category and minority communities, 0.204 points with Scheduled Castes, and 0.154 points with Scheduled Tribes. This data reveals several truths.
“I would like to ask the opposition: If an entire section of society remains underdeveloped, how can we expect overall progress? The minority population is about 15 per cent, and for their welfare, we have allocated Rs 4,514 crore in this year’s budget. This amounts to just 1.1 per cent of the total budget. Why so much hatred over this?” he asked.
He further said: “How can India become a global leader when 14 per cent of the population lacks access to education, healthcare, drinking water, housing, and sanitation facilities? Without bringing 14 per cent of the population onto the path of development, how can GDP and GSDP be increased? Excluding these communities is not only unjust but also unconstitutional.”
This is a budget for all, a “Sarvodaya Budget”, and I reiterate this once again, CM Siddaramaiah stated.
–IANS
mka/pgh
