New Delhi: The BJP on Saturday criticized the Karnataka government's decision to reserve four percent of government contracts for Muslim contractors, calling it unconstitutional and alleging that it was part of the Congress' appeasement politics that undermines national unity.
Addressing a press conference, BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad accused Congress Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of attempting to lead the party into a competitive vote-bank politics among opposition parties. Prasad claimed that the Karnataka government's decision was influenced by Gandhi, alleging that Chief Minister Siddharamaiah lacked the political courage or capital to make such a move independently.
The announcement of a separate quota for Muslim contractors in government contracts, Prasad argued, adds a new layer to communal and vote-bank politics. He warned that although the decision might seem small, such developments could have serious long-term national implications.
Prasad questioned if there was any limit to competitive appeasement politics, sarcastically asking whether Muslims would next have separate queues for buying cinema and train tickets. He also expressed concern that such policies undermine the voices of Muslims who oppose such politics and seek national development.
The BJP leader also drew parallels with the country's history, recalling how demands for separate treatment for Muslims during the independence movement contributed to the country's division. He emphasized that the Supreme Court had firmly spoken against religion-based reservations and expressed confidence that the Karnataka decision would be challenged in court.
Prasad further questioned whether Rahul Gandhi understood the Constitution and warned that other Congress-ruled states might follow Karnataka’s example, prompting opposition from the BJP.
He clarified that while the Constitution allows for reservation based on social and educational backwardness, Muslims have already benefited from such reservations in various states. However, Prasad argued that religion-based reservations, like the one proposed in Karnataka, are impermissible under the Constitution.
The BJP leader also accused the Congress of setting a dangerous precedent in vote-bank and Muslim appeasement politics, which he said could harm national unity. He referenced Pakistan's founder M.A. Jinnah, claiming that although Jinnah was no longer alive, his politics still persisted among some individuals. "A large number of Muslims in the country now do not like such politics," he added.
In contrast, Prasad stated that the BJP respected prominent Muslim figures such as Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and noted that the Narendra Modi government had named an island in the Andaman and Nicobar region after Param Vir Chakra awardee Abdul Hamid.
Concluding his remarks, Prasad argued that advancing appeasement politics was detrimental to the country's unity. He also pointed out that while Congress leaders often carry pictures of Bhim Rao Ambedkar in their attacks on the BJP, Ambedkar himself had criticized the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for focusing on Muslim welfare without addressing the needs of Scheduled Castes.
With PTI inputs