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States » SouthPosted at: Mar 17 2025 2:00PM


Vijayendra, DKS spar over minority reservations

Bengaluru, Mar 17 (UNI) A fresh political storm has erupted in Karnataka as Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and BJP state president Vijayendra Yediyurappa locked horns over minority representation and reservations, underscoring the deepening ideological divide between the Congress and the BJP.
At the centre of the controversy is the Congress government's move to grant a 4% reservation in government contracts to Muslims, a decision that has triggered sharp criticism from the opposition BJP. The face-off took a heated turn on Monday, with both leaders exchanging barbs.
Vijayendra accused the Congress of indulging in 'Muslim appeasement politics,' alleging that the policy was designed purely to consolidate vote banks rather than ensure genuine social justice.
"The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has never been against Muslims, nor has Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the Congress is resorting to vote-bank politics by granting undue favours to the community," Vijayendra told reporters here.
Questioning the constitutional validity of the Congress party's decision, he remarked, "Where is the constitutional provision for granting 4% reservation in government contracts? Congress leaders frequently invoke Babasaheb Ambedkar and the Constitution, but this move is clearly unconstitutional."
He also pointed to the BJP’s past initiatives, reminding Shivakumar that it was the BJP government that appointed Dr APJ Abdul Kalam as the President of India and governors such as Justice Abdul Nazeer and Mohammed Arif Khan. "The Congress has no moral high ground to lecture the BJP on minority representation," he asserted.
Vijayendra further vowed that his party would strongly oppose the Congress government’s policy, calling it a divisive move aimed at electoral gains.
Defending the Congress government’s decision, Shivakumar took to X to challenge the BJP’s stance on inclusivity. He questioned the BJP’s commitment to minority representation, urging it to appoint members from Christian and Muslim communities as MLCs, Rajya Sabha members, or Union ministers.
"The Congress party's policy is not limited to Muslims but extends to all minority communities, including Christians, Sikhs, and Buddhists,” he stated, emphasising Karnataka’s pluralistic identity.
Shivakumar further invoked poet Kuvempu’s vision of a state that embraces all communities, maintaining that the Congress government is working towards equitable development. He accused the BJP of selectively opposing policies aimed at uplifting minorities, calling the opposition’s criticism politically motivated.
The fiery exchange between the two leaders signals an intensifying battle over minority welfare and reservation policies in Karnataka. As the state gears up for future elections, the issue is likely to remain a key flashpoint between the ruling Congress and the BJP, reflecting broader national debates on affirmative action and minority rights.
With both parties digging in their heels, the controversy surrounding the 4% reservation in government contracts is poised to become a major electoral and ideological battleground in Karnataka’s political landscape.
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Tags: #Vijayendra# DKS spar over minority reservations
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