‘Are there no poor people among Hindus?’: BJP’s BY Vijayendra criticizes Karnataka’s 4pc minority quota

BENGALURU: Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra on Monday strongly opposed the Congress government’s policy of Muslim appeasement. He stated that there are poor people in all communities, including Hindus.

Speaking to the media today, he asserted that BJP’s stance is clear. “If the bill granting 4% reservation for Muslims is introduced in the assembly, BJP will launch a fierce protest both inside and outside the house. We will not allow its implementation,” he said.

Vijayendra questioned why the government is providing 4% reservation for Muslims in government projects while ignoring the poor among Hindus.

Responding to a question, Vijayendra acknowledged that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is a senior leader and recalled Kuvempu’s state anthem, which speaks of harmony among all communities. However, he accused the Congress government of sowing the seeds of discord in Karnataka instead of fostering peace. He warned that BJP will strongly oppose this divisive agenda led by CM Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar.

#WATCH | Bengaluru: On the Karnataka government’s approval of a 4% minority quota in contracts, BJP State President BY Vijayendra says, “BJP is not against Muslims, but we are against Congress’s Muslim appeasement politics… Yesterday, I was watching Dy CM DK Shivakumar. He… pic.twitter.com/kukSahTSeL

— ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2025

The BJP leader also raised questions about the inclusion of Jains under Category 2B, asking who else would be included apart from Muslims. He criticized the Congress leaders, accusing them of misleading the public.

The Karnataka government has decided to reserve 4% of government contracts for Muslims, a decision approved in a cabinet meeting and set to be introduced in the assembly. BJP has made it clear that they strongly oppose this move.

Vijayendra emphasized that BJP is not against Muslims but opposes Congress’s vote-bank politics and appeasement policies. He pointed out that Shivakumar recently challenged BJP to nominate more Muslim leaders to the Legislative Council and Rajya Sabha. In response, he reminded that it was the BJP government that made APJ Abdul Kalam the President of India, unlike Congress.

He also mentioned that under Narendra Modi’s leadership, BJP appointed Najma Heptulla as Governor, Justice Abdul Nazeer as Governor, and Mohammad Arif Khan as Governor. He noted that BJP also honoured Ustad Bismillah Khan with the Bharat Ratna, not Congress.

The BJP’s reaction comes after the state cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, which aims to provide 4 per cent reservation in tenders to Minority contractors, official sources said.

The decision was taken on March 14 in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the Cabinet Hall of the Vidhan Sabha. Official sources added that the amendment will be made after the KTPP act is tabled in the ongoing assembly session. (ANI)