BJP Plans To Challenge Govt Move On 4% Quota In Court

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday announced plans to stage public protests and move to court to challenge the state government's decision to allocate 4% reservation for Muslims in government contracts.

- HT Correspondent

BENGALURU: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday announced plans to stage public protests and move to court to challenge the state government's decision to allocate 4% reservation for Muslims in government contracts.

"This patently unconstitutional prima facie illegal act will be challenged in the court. The BJP will fight against the move inside the assembly and outside on the streets. We will raise the issue in Parliament also and protest against this outside Parliament," BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said.

The cabinet's decision to amend the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act reserves 4% of contracts in civil works valued up to ₹2 crore and goods/services contracts up to ₹1 crore for Muslims. The cabinet approved the move to amend on Friday. Currently, reservations exist for SC/ST contractors (24%) and OBC contractors from Category-1 (4%) and Category-2A (15%). The inclusion of Muslims falls under Category-2B of the OBCs.

"The BJP firmly opposes the proposed unconstitutional move and demands that Siddaramaiah government immediately roll back the proposed unconstitutional misadventure," Surya said during a press conference at the party headquarters.

The BJP leader labelled the move a "calculated effort" to favour Muslims under the influence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He further alleged, "Perhaps for the first time in the country, a government which claims to be secular in nature is incentivising religious conversion in the state."

Other BJP leaders, including MPs PC Mohan, Brijesh Chowta, and CN Manjunath, echoed Surya's sentiments during the press conference.