Coming down heavily on the Opposition BJP for its repeated remarks on “Muslim appeasement”, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday defended the government’s move to provide 4% reservation for Muslims in public contracts under OBC quota, questioning why it should not be done.

What PM said

This came on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking at Hisar in Haryana, accused the Congress government in Karnataka of “snatching away the rights of SCs, STs and OBCs”, and giving “reservation based on religion” in public contracts.

Defending his government’s move, Mr. Siddaramaiah said the Congress government is for giving strength to anyone who is economically and socially weak. “This is the mission and commitment of the Congress. I stand with those who have been deprived of opportunities and those who have not got justice,” the Chief Minister said at a programme.

Opportunity to all

Mr. Shivakumar, who is also the KPCC president, said the Congress and the government’s aim is to uplift those who are not financially stable and to bring them to the mainstream. “To achieve this the party will look at every section of society. Who says we are snatching opportunities from anyone? Opportunity is being given to everyone, on the contrary,” he said.

The Chief Minister said reservation in public contracts has been given to give strength to Dalits, Backward Classes, and minorities. “First we did it for contracts up to ₹50 lakh, then increased it to ₹1 crore, now we have made it up to ₹2 crore, for OBC Category 1, 2A , and also 2B. The Opposition is alleging appeasement and have made it a big issue,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said.

“False propaganda is being spread, projecting me as anti-upper caste. I am not opposed to anyone or any community. Standing in support of those who have been deprived of opportunities, those who have not got justice, is the teaching of our Constitution and B.R. Ambedkar,” the Chief Minister asserted.