The Karnataka government’s decision to approve 4% reservation for Muslim contractors in government contracts has sparked sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with senior leader and MP Ravi Shankar Prasad terming it “unconstitutional and discriminatory.”
Addressing the issue, Prasad stated, “The BJP is against this, and we will continue to oppose it. Religion-based reservation is not permissible under the Indian Constitution. While reservations can be granted on the basis of social backwardness, it is not acceptable to provide them directly to a religious community.”
#WATCH | Delhi | On Karnataka government clearing 4% reservation for Muslim contractors, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad says, "The BJP is against this, and we will keep opposing it... Religion-based reservation is not permissible under the Indian Constitution... Reservation on… pic.twitter.com/ikkrwZNORp
— ANI (@ANI) March 15, 2025
The Karnataka Cabinet recently cleared the proposal, amending the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, 1999, to introduce 4% reservation for Muslim contractors in tenders for government projects up to ₹1 crore. The state also extended the tender limit for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) from ₹1 crore to ₹2 crore.
The decision has triggered a political storm, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress government, led by CM Siddaramaiah, of indulging in "appeasement politics."
