Karnataka budget: Inclusion of Muslims in reservation for govt tenders below Rs 2 crore triggers row; BJP alleges appeasement

In his budget speech, Siddaramaiah said, “Under the provisions of Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act, the reservation provided to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Category-I, Category-IIA and Category-IIB contractors in works will be increased to Rs 2 crore. Under the provisions of Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act, reservation will be provided in procurement of goods and services under various Government departments, corporations and institutions to suppliers belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Category-I, Category-IIA and Category-IIB up to Rs 1 crore.”

The announcement did not sit well with the saffron party. BJP legislator V Sunil Kumar slammed the decision, asking whether more proof was required for the “anti-Hindu stance of Siddaramaiah government”. He also alleged that Siddaramaiah was giving special priority to Muslims behind the scenes for a long time. “This is a divide-and-rule policy of the financial expert,” he tweeted, taking a dig at Siddaramaiah.

The Karnataka BJP, meanwhile, posted an edited photo of Siddaramaiah with a skull cap and claimed that he had presented a ‘Halal Budget’ and that appeasement was at its peak. Listing out various programmes announced to the community, including the Rs 50,000 assistance for Muslim simple marriages, the party alleged that nothing was provided to the SC/ST and the Other Backward Classes communities in the budget.