New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party came out heavily against the Congress-led Karnataka government over its decision to grant four per cent reservation for minority contractors in tenders, and termed the move "unconstitutional" aimed to send a message to the party's "vote bank".
Surya, the BJP MP from Bengaluru South constituency, alleged that the Siddaramaiah government has done this in a "very calculated move" at the behest of Congress party' top leadership.
"Reservations solely based on religion are unconstitutional and is not permitted. Despite being fully aware of this legal position the Siddaramaiah government in a very calculated move to appease and send a message to its vote bank has indulged in this constitutional adventure. This is being done at the behest and patronage of the topmost leadership of Congress party, particularly Rahul Gandhi", Tejasvi Surya said in a press conference on Monday.
Attacking Congress further, he took a jibe comparing Rahul Gandhi's remarks during the Bharat Jodo Yatra with former PM Manmohan Singh's earlier remarks regarding minorities.
"Before the commencement of the Lok Sabha election campaign, Rahul Gandhi went about the whole country and spoke the same strain of thought that earlier PM Manmohan Singh had spoken about the minorities of the country having an exclusive and first right on the counter resources," Tejasvi Surya added.
The BJP leader further questioned whether this is the brand of secularism and Constitution for Congress where benefits of minorities are taken away for minorities. He asserted that the BJP will raise this issue in the assembly and Parliament and also challenge it in the courts.
"Same strain of thought of Rahul Gandhi reflected in the Karnataka budget. The questions the BJP would like to ask Siddaramaiah are - is this is the brand of secularism that the Constitution of India and Baba Saheb envisaged for the country, where benefits reservations taken away from SC/STs and given to minorities?" Surya said.
"You claim to be a champion, a self-proclaimed champion of Ambedkar and the welfare of backward classes. BJP will fight against this move inside of the Assembly and outside of the Assembly. We will raise this issue in Parliament and also fight it in the courts," he added.
The Karnataka state cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, which aims to provide 4 per cent reservation in tenders to Minority contractors, official sources said.
The decision was taken on March 14 in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the Cabinet Hall of the Vidhan Sabha. Official sources added that the amendment will be made after the KTPP act is tabled in the ongoing assembly session.
However, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has clarified that the state government's decision to provide a four per cent reservation in government contracts is not exclusive to Muslims but extends to "all minority communities and backward classes."