As the BJP launched an attack on the Congress government in Karnataka, charging that it was going to allocate 4% quota for Muslim contractors in public work projects up to Rs 1 crore, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismissed the row, asserting that the government does not have any such proposal although, he added, demands have been made in this regard.

However, several Muslim legislators from the Congress have maintained that the proposal would be “essential for the community’s uplift”, asserting that “such aspirations cannot be treated as a crime”.

They pointed out that their petition submitted to the CM on August 24 to demand quota for Muslims in government contracts up to Rs 1 crore under the backward class category was in line with similar reservation provided for contractors belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in the state.

Rizwan Arshad, who was among the Congress’s Muslim legislators who petitioned the government to seek 4% reservation for the community in public contracts, told The Indian Express: “This is required for Muslims as contracting business is mostly dominated by major communities and upper castes. As a result, when Congress was in power last time (between 2013-18), it had provided 24% reservation for SCs/STs in government tenders up to Rs 50 lakh, which was increased to Rs 1 crore after the party returned to power last year.”

Apart from Arshad, other petitioners included Housing and Waqf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, Municipal Administration and Haj minister Rahim Khan, political secretary to the CM and MLC Naseer Ahmed and MLA Tanveer Sait. After the Siddaramaiah government took charge in May 2023, it extended quota in public works to the OBCs. Apart from 24% reservation meant for the SCs/STs, the OBCs under Category-1 and Category 2A have 4% and 15% quotas respectively in government tenders up to Rs 1 crore.

Commenting on the BJP’s opposition to the Muslim quota proposal, Arshad said, “Such aspirations cannot be treated as a crime. When talking about social justice, people should realise that we (Muslims) are also part of a society and we also need opportunities.”

Another Congress legislator, on condition of anonymity, said the number of contractors from the SCs, STs, OBCs and minorities were “miniscule”. “Offering reservation will help those who are struggling to secure any tenders due to various socio-economic reasons,” he said, underlining that these reservations are only meant for tenders below Rs one crore.

In the 224-member state Assembly, there are only eight Muslim MLAs, including Speaker, all of whom are from the Congress. In the 75-member Legislative Council, there are currently four Muslim MLCs, who are from the Congress.

Siddaramaiah told reporters Wednesday that the Muslim community has demanded reservation in government contracts along the lines of the SC, ST and OBC communities. “However, the government has not taken any decision yet,” he said, accusing the BJP of “giving a communal colour to every issue”.

According to Home Minister G Parameshwara, the CM has directed departments concerned to look into the proposal. “After review, it would be placed before the Cabinet. Till now, it has not been discussed by the Cabinet,” he said, adding that the proposal is being “misunderstood” by the Opposition.

On Tuesday, the BJP slammed the government over the proposal, with Leader of Opposition in the Assembly R Ashok calling it “appeasement politics”. He also accused Siddaramaiah of allegedly “lying” now to distance the government from the proposal to “save its skin”.

Currently, the Muslim community is provided 4% reservation under the 2B backward class category in education and government jobs in the state.

The BJP has been targeting the Congress over the Muslim reservation issue, accusing the grand old party of allegedly planning it by reducing quotas meant for the SCs, STs and OBCs. The BJP has raked it up in its current campaign in the Maharashtra and Jharkhand Assembly polls too. The Congress has rejected these allegations as baseless and unfounded.