‘Karnataka has become laboratory of appeasement politics’: Prahlad Joshi slams Cong govt

NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Pralhad Joshi on Thursday slammed the Karnataka Congress government over the proposed 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in public contracts and the resolution against Waqf Amendment Bill and accused the Congress of engaging in “appeasement politics.”

“This is the politics of appeasement and even in the Supreme Court, under Article 15 Clause 1, it was said that you cannot give reservation on the basis of religion. And what is happening in Waqf in Karnataka. A farmer adjacent to my constituency committed suicide because land was grabbed in the name of Waqf Board and standing crops were bulldozed, there are many such incidents”, Joshi told reporters.

#WATCH | Delhi: On the Karnataka Assembly rejecting the Waqf (Amendment) Bill and 4% reservation row, Union Minister Prahlad Joshi says, “…This is the politics of appeasement and even in the Supreme Court, under Article 15 Clause 1, it was said that you cannot give reservation… pic.twitter.com/JLAPIt4dzq

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The minister accused the Congress government of being “lenient in cases related to PFI and SDPI”. “This government, the Congress government under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership is completely involved in appeasement. Karnataka has become a laboratory of appeasement politics. I want to warn them that this will not work and we will raise this issue across the country”, he added.

Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra on Thursday criticised the resolution passed by the Karnataka assembly against the Waqf (Amendment) bill, saying that the CM Siddaramaiah-led government had “forcefully passed” it. The Karnataka assembly passed a resolution against the union government’s proposed legislation on Wednesday amidst protests from the Opposition.

Accusing Congress leaders of being involved in land grab, he said the BJP would be expose such “scams” before people. “Congress leaders are involved in this land grab scam. BJP will expose the Congress government before the people of Karnataka,” the BJP leader said.

Terming the decision to give four per cent reservation to minorities as “appeasement politics,” he said that the party would be protesting on the streets against both issues. “Bringing 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in contracts is very unfortunate. Doesn’t he see any other people in the Hindu community? Why this appeasement politics? The state’s law and order are deteriorating day by day due to appeasement politics. BJP will take it to the streets on issues of Waqf amendment, 4 per cent quota for Muslims”, he said.

On March 19, Leader of Opposition R Ashok had voiced strong objections to the resolution. “We discussed Waqf issues for two days because all our temples and farmers’ land have been acquired by the Waqf Board. Many government schools, which have existed for the last 60-70 years, have also been declared as Waqf properties. The Karnataka government is supporting Muslims because of votes,” Ashok stated.

The resolution was tabled by the state’s Law Minister, H K Patil. (ANI)