The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Karnataka):Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has vehemently denied Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s accusation that the Congress redirected reservation quotas from backward classes and Dalits to Muslims. This assertion was made in response to Modi’s remarks at a rally in Rajasthan’s Tonk, where he suggested that the Congress had engaged in a conspiracy to reallocate quotas to Muslims for electoral gains.
During a sharp exchange on social media and in public statements, Siddaramaiah defended the 4% reservation for Muslims under the backward classes category in Karnataka, clarifying that this inclusion is based on decades of recommendations by various Backward Classes Commissions since 1974. He challenged Modi to provide evidence or apologize for his claims, questioning the absence of any official document or policy enactment that supports Modi’s allegations.
The Chief Minister underscored that constitutional reservation policies cannot be amended arbitrarily and that any changes require comprehensive social and economic surveys, as well as approval from both houses of Parliament—a process he claims Modi appears to misunderstand. He also pointed out that the Muslim reservation in Karnataka, categorized under ‘2B’, has been unchallenged legally by any party, including the BJP, and was not instituted by his administration but has been in place for over three decades.
Furthermore, Siddaramaiah highlighted a recent Supreme Court stay on a decision by the previous BJP government in Karnataka to amend these reservations, suggesting that Modi’s criticism lacks awareness of crucial legal rulings and the historical context of reservation policies in the state.
This ongoing dispute not only illuminates the tensions between the national and state leaders but also reflects the complex interplay of legal, electoral, and social dynamics governing reservation policies in India. As Karnataka prepares for upcoming elections, these issues remain at the forefront of political discourse, with significant implications for voter sentiment and party strategies.