Karnataka Government Approves 4% Reservation for Muslims in Government Contracts

The Karnataka government has approved a proposal to provide a 4% reservation for Muslim contractors in government contracts, alongside provisions for oppressed and backward classes, Muslim Mirror reported. This decision was confirmed during a Cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, with plans to present a Bill during the ongoing Budget Session.

The amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, 1999, aims to reserve 4% of tenders for Muslim contractors for contracts valued up to Rs 1 crore. Additionally, the limit for Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities has been increased from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore.

The proposal arose from requests by minority leaders seeking similar reservations to those already in place for SC, ST, and other backward communities. However, the decision has faced criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which argues that it constitutes appeasement politics and undermines constitutional principles. BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra has called for broader support for all marginalized communities, asserting that the focus on Muslim reservations neglects other minority groups.