Karnataka Govt Sparks Row Over Proposed Muslim Reservations In Public Sector Construction Contracts

The Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka is embroiled in a fresh controversy over reports of a proposal to provide Muslims a 4% reservation in public sector construction contracts under the 2B category of OBCs. Sources suggest this could be included in a larger 47% quota plan for government contracts, possibly to be tabled during the upcoming winter session of the Assembly. The BJP has strongly criticized the Congress-led government, accusing it of diverting quotas meant for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) to benefit Muslims. Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed this move was politically motivated and detrimental to other backward communities. However, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) denied any concrete proposal to allocate a Muslim quota in government contracts. The CMO clarified that existing quotas for SCs, STs, and OBCs remain intact, and the government is evaluating similar demands from other communities. Congress MLA Mahesh Tenginkai suggested the BJP is using this issue as a political weapon to target the Congress in election-bound states like Maharashtra and Jharkhand. With the debate heating up, the proposal, if pursued, is set to spark further political battles in Karnataka and beyond.