Bengaluru, March 18 (NationPress) The Karnataka State Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Contractors Association has made an appeal to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah regarding their apprehensions about the 4 percent quota allocated for Muslims in government tenders.

The organization expressed that the situation has taken a political stance, especially with the BJP indicating potential legal actions against this decision, leading them to worry about the repercussions for the reservations available to SC and ST contractors.

Mahadeva Swamy, the President of the Karnataka State SC/ST Contractors Association, shared with IANS on Tuesday that they have formally raised this issue with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the relevant minister. They anticipate decisions to be made that will safeguard the interests of SC and ST contractors.

“The government has outlined the quota for tenders all at once. However, BJP leaders and Central ministers have announced their intention to legally contest the Muslim quota. If they proceed with this challenge, it could inadvertently jeopardize the quotas for other categories mentioned alongside,” stated Mahadeva Swamy.

“Therefore, we urge the government to ensure that when presenting the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements Act, 1999 (KTPP Act) bill, the matter concerning SC and ST categories is clearly delineated in separate clauses,” Mahadeva Swamy asserted.

He emphasized that the Muslim quota will not interfere with the SC and ST categories, and their 24 percent reservation will remain unaffected.

The association also commended Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for boosting the reservation in government tenders from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore. They have further welcomed the inclusion of reservations for Category -1, Category 2 A, and Category 2B.

The quota for SC-ST contractors has been approved by the President of India and validated by the Supreme Court, which deemed it constitutional.

The government is set to introduce the KTPP (Amendment) Act soon to allocate a quota for Muslims. The BJP has declared it will oppose the implementation of this reservation, labeling it unconstitutional and a threat to national integrity.

In a strong critique of the Congress-led Karnataka government’s decision to grant a 4 percent reservation to Muslims in tenders, the BJP warned that such a move could lead to fragmentation within India. The party has committed to challenging this initiative in court.

Speaking to the press in New Delhi, BJP National Yuva Morcha President and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya stated on Monday that this “clearly unconstitutional, prima facie illegal act of providing a quota for Muslims” will be legally contested.