Muslim quota row in Karnataka: Why the alleged promise of 4% quota sparked debate

The alleged proposal to bring Muslims under the ambit of reservation in public contracts for construction (civil) works sparked row.

After reports of the state government considering a proposal to bring Muslims under the ambit of reservation in public contracts for construction (civil) works emerged, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said there are no such plans.

“Reports have been published in some media that a proposal to give reservations to Muslims in jobs is before the government,” the chief minister’s office said in a statement.“It’s true that there is a demand to provide reservation for Muslims in government contracts but there is no proposal before the government right now,” the CMO said.

What was the alleged proposal?

It was reported that the Siddaramaiah government was planning to allocate a 4 percent quota for Muslim contractors in public work projects valued up to Rs 1 crore. The proposed quota, which would fall under Category-2B, would have pushed overall reservation for public works contracts to 47 percent. The proposal was reportedly discussed after a petition from CM’s political secretary Nasir Ahmed and several MLCs.

A News18 report stated the possibility of tabling a bill related to this proposal during the winter session of the Karnataka Assembly. During his first term in office, Siddaramaiah introduced reservation in contracts for SC/STs. Earlier this year, two OBC categories got the same benefit

Current quota framework

Karnataka now has reservation in civil works contracts for SC/STs (24 per cent) and OBC contractors belonging to Category-1 (4 per cent) and Category-2A (15 percent). This totals up to 43 per cent. The 4% quota, which would fall under Category-2B, would have pushed overall reservation for public works contracts to 47 per cent.

What does the opposition say?

Assembly opposition leader R Ashoka accused Siddaramaiah of “messing up things first and then telling lies”. He posted on X saying that this was Siddaramaiah’s “routine these days”.

“Siddaramaiah’s political secretary, Naseer Ahmed, along with housing and waqf minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan and other Muslim MLAs, had submitted a letter on August 24, requesting a 4% reservation in contracts for Muslims,” said Ashoka.

In his Jharkhand rally, Union home minister Amit Shah also criticised Congress’s support for religion-based reservations. He said, “Congress talks about reservation, but in our constitution, there is no such provision to give reservation based on religion.”

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya said the move was a violation of constitutional principles. “Siddaramaiah administration in Karnataka is evaluating a proposal to provide reservations to Muslims in public contracts for construction (civil) works. If Muslims are given this quota in Karnataka then whose share will be cut – SC, ST or OBCs?” Malviya posted on X.