Oppose Muslim Quota Bill: BJP MLA's Appeal to Karnataka Governor
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Synopsis
BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal has urged Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to reject the controversial Muslim quota bill and the associated amendment to the KTPP Act, claiming it undermines constitutional principles.
Key Takeaways
- BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal wrote to the Governor opposing the Muslim quota bill.
- The bill proposes a 4 percent reservation for Muslims in government contracts.
- Yatnal argues it contradicts Article 15 of the Constitution.
- The Supreme Court has previously invalidated similar reservations.
- Concerns raised about national integrity and unity.
Bengaluru, March 19 (NationPress) Senior BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal addressed a letter to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Wednesday, urging him to dismiss the contentious Muslim quota bill.
Yatnal further insisted that consent should not be granted to the amendment of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements Act (KTPP), which proposes a 4 percent reservation for Muslims in government contracts.
In his correspondence, Yatnal expressed, “The Karnataka State government has presented a bill in the Legislative Assembly aimed at instituting a 4 percent reservation for Muslims in public contracts, which contradicts the principles of the Constitution. This amendment to the KTPP Act allows for a four percent reservation in civil contracts up to Rs 2 crore and goods and services contracts up to Rs 1 crore. The KTPP Act was modified and approved by the Karnataka cabinet last week.”
“Sir, Article 15 explicitly prevents the state from discriminating against citizens based on religion or caste. During the Constitution's drafting, Dr. Ambedkar himself opposed religion-based reservations. Courts in various states have annulled similar attempts for religion-based reservations. Yet, the Congress government in Karnataka continues to engage in vote-bank politics by providing a 4 percent reservation to the Muslim community,” the letter stated.
The Supreme Court has also invalidated reservations based on religion, recently overturning the decision of the West Bengal government to classify 77 communities, primarily Muslim, as OBC for reservation benefits. This ruling came amid appeals, including one from the West Bengal government challenging the Calcutta High Court’s ruling against OBC classification for Muslim communities, Yatnal pointed out.
“Sir, since religion-based reservations are currently under judicial examination, I urge you not to grant consent to this bill, which is both unconstitutional and illogical, serving no welfare purpose but rather targeting a specific community that constitutes the ruling government’s vote bank in Karnataka. The act of providing reservations to Muslims in civil contracts jeopardizes national integrity, unity, and sovereignty,” MLA Yatnal emphasized in his letter.
He added, “I request your intervention to prevent the approval of this bill and uphold equality for all citizens of the state as mandated by the Constitution.”
Despite opposition, the ruling Congress party introduced the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements Amendment (KTPP) Bill on Tuesday, which seeks to establish a four percent quota for Muslims in government tenders.
Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, H.K. Patil, presented the bill in the assembly. The government claims that the bill is a measure to tackle unemployment.
Allocations include 17.15 percent for SCs, 6.95 percent for STs, 15 percent for Category 2A, and 4 percent for Category 2B (Muslims).
