4% quota for Muslims in Karnataka since 1994: Sidddaramaiah

Backward Classes panel to summon state Chief Secy over ‘ blanket quota’

CHIEF MINISTER Siddaramaiah on Thursday defended the 4% quota given to Muslim in Karnataka, saying that the reservation had been in place in the state since 1994.

His remarks came on a day when the National Commission for Backward Classes ( NCBC) said it would summon the Karnataka Chief Secretary over the “blanket reservation” given to the Muslim community in the state.

Speaking to reporters at Bidar, Siddaramaiah said, “The Chinnappa Reddy Commission had recommended the 4% reservation ( in 1994). The previous BJP government under Basavaraj Bommai had scrapped it."

After scrapping the quota, the BJP government had submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying that “it would continue reservation as it is", the CM said.

Earlier in the day, the NCBC had criticised Karnataka government's decision to categorise the entire Muslim community as a backward caste for reservation purpose, saying such blanket categorisation undermines the principles of social justice. “All castes/ communities of Muslim religion in Karnataka are considered socially and educationally backward classes of citizens and are categorised as Muslim Caste separately under Category IIB in the State List of Backward Classes," NCBC chairperson Hansraj Ahir said.

On Wednesday, Siddaramaiah had attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his statement that the Congress had transferred reservation quota from backward classes and Dalits to Muslims and called it “a blatant lie”.

Constitutional reservation, he said, cannot be arbitrarily amended. “Revisions to reservations can only be made based on reports from social and economic surveys. Moreover, state governments do not have the authority to modify reservations for Scheduled Castes and Tribes," the CM said.

In Karnataka, Muslims have been included in the 2B category for backward classes. “This is not something done now. It has been based on the reports of the Backward Classes Commissions starting ( from the one headed by) L G Havanur in 1974. This reservation has been in place for the past three decades. Neither the BJP government previously in power at the state, nor the Narendra Modi- led Union Government that has been in power for the past ten years, has questioned this reservation. Moreover, no one, including the BJP, has challenged it in court," the CM posted on X.