The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday slammed the Congress party over Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's remarks suggesting that the Constitution will "change" in order to legally facilitate the implementation of the 4 percent reservation for Muslims in government contracts that was cleared by the Karnataka Assembly on Friday.
Speaking about the Bill at the News18 India Diamond States Summit 2025 on Sunday, Shivakumar said, "There is a big debate going on regarding this issue. Many BJP leaders have claimed that Muslims are repairing bike punctures. It is our responsibility to uplift every section of society, allowing them to come forward and be part of the development. We have initiated something, and we know that everyone will approach the court. Many judgments have altered the Constitution over time," Shivakumar said.
“Let us see, let us watch. Let what court comes out. We have started something, I know that everyone will go to the court. Let us wait for some good day, the day will come. Lot of changes are there, Constitution will be changing, there are judgements which alters the Constitution also," the deputy chief minister added.
The BJP was quick to latch on to Shivakumar's remarks on the constitutional changes and questioned party leader Rahul Gandhi on his claims to "save the Constitution".
"Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar openly declares that the Congress will amend the Constitution to grant reservations to Muslims. Where is Rahul Gandhi, the self-proclaimed saviour of the Constitution now?" BJP I-T cell head Amit Malviya said in a post on X.
"The Congress has always prioritised appeasement over national interest—they didn’t hesitate to partition the country on religious lines, and even after that, ensured that Muslims stayed back. There could be no greater betrayal. Congress has never been fair to Hindus—and it never will be," he added.
The Congress party had effectively turned the BJP's Lok Sabha slogan of 'Abki baar, 400 paar' into a campaign to suggest that the BJP wanted to change the Constitution and end reservations altogether.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that Shivakumar's remarks were an admission that Congress was the "biggest threat to the Constitution".
“Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar has agreed that giving 4% reservation to Muslims in government contracts is not under the Constitution, but they will change the Constitution for it… Rahul Gandhi accuses others of changing the Constitution, but it is he who wants to change the Constitution and Babasaheb Ambedkar… and destroy the Constitution to give reservation to Muslims on the basis of religion," Poonawalla told news agency ANI.
"Now Rahul Gandhi should tell who is the real enemy of the Constitution?… Congress is the biggest threat to the Constitution of this country. Their vote bank politics and appeasement politics are the biggest threat to the Constitution," he added.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
