BJP Vows Statewide Protests to Block Karnataka’s Muslim Quota in Government Tenders

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka has launched a fierce offensive against the Congress-led state government’s decision to allocate a 4% reservation for Muslims in government tenders, branding it unconstitutional and a blatant act of “Muslim appeasement.” On Monday, the party announced plans for vigorous protests both within the state legislature and across Karnataka, vowing to derail the policy’s implementation.

Speaking at Vidhana Soudha, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of undermining the Constitution and Dalit rights for electoral gain. “Reservation is meant to uplift Dalits, not to be handed out based on religion,” he charged, pointing to the absence of constitutional provisions for religion-based quotas. Ashoka criticized Siddaramaiah’s tenure, citing gestures like wearing a skull cap, introducing Tipu Jayanti, and allocating Rs 10,000 crore for Muslim welfare in the 2025 budget as evidence of skewed priorities. “We will protest inside the legislature and statewide,” he declared.

State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra echoed Ashoka’s resolve, noting that the Cabinet has greenlit the quota and is poised to table a Bill in the legislature. “The BJP will fiercely oppose this,” he affirmed, rebutting Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar’s taunts by listing BJP-appointed Muslim luminaries like Dr. Abdul Kalam and Najma Heptulla. Vijayendra questioned the exclusion of poor Hindus from similar benefits, asking, “Have they committed a sin?” He pledged that the BJP would block the Bill’s passage, rallying both legislators and supporters outside.

The escalating clash underscores a deepening political divide, with the BJP framing the quota as an attack on constitutional equity and Congress defending it as social justice. Protests are set to intensify as the legislature convenes.