The LoP in Karnataka legislative council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, on Sunday said BJP will oppose a proposed bill that envisages reservation for religious minorities in govt contracts, a view echoed by state party president BY Vijayendra in Belagavi. Last week, cabinet approved The Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (Amendment) Bill, 2025, that seeks to provide 4% reservation in contracts for civil contractors from religious minorities. Govt is likely to introduce the bill in the assembly on Tuesday. “It is purely aimed at appeasing its Muslim vote bank,” Narayanaswamy said. “Reservation based on religion is a violation of the Constitution. We will oppose it tooth and nail in both Houses and outside,” he added.
The previous BJP govt had scrapped 4% reservation for Muslims in jobs and education, introduced by Janata Dal govt led by HD Deve Gowda in 1995, he said. “But Congress’s poll manifesto had promised to restore it although a case is pending in court. Now, Congress is trying to reintroduce the quota in the form of reservation in civil contracts,” he said. Vijayendra called it “a conspiracy to divide people on religious lines”.