Salient Points of Joint Press Conference of Bharatiya janta Yuva Morcha National President Shri Tejasvi Surya, Shri P.C. Mohan, Capt. Brijesh Chowta and Dr. CN Manjunath
The Siddaramaiah government's recent budget proposed amending the KTPP Act to implement a 4% reservation for Muslims in government tenders. This move is not only blatantly unconstitutional but also goes against the principles set by the framers of the Constitution
****************
Bharatiya Janata Party will oppose this move both inside the assembly and on the streets. We will raise this issue in Parliament and protest against it outside as well
****************
This decision is being taken under the direct patronage and direction of the Congress party’s top leadership, particularly Rahul Gandhi
****************
Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar asserted that reservation of seats for religious minorities on the basis of religion is a "fatal dose for the country"
****************
Since the tenure of Pt. Nehru, Congress has consistently prioritized appeasement of the Muslim minority at the expense of SCs, STs, and OBCs
****************
In one of his parliamentary addresses, Dr. Ambedkar had criticized Jwahar Lal Nehru, stating that the Prime Minister thinks only about Muslims, never about the welfare of the SCs and STs
****************
On one hand, the Congress party claims to be the champion of backward classes, the self-appointed custodian of the rights of SCs and STs, and the protector of Dr. Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar's legacy. But in reality, this is the kind of politics they practice
****************
While ₹150 crore has been allocated for the protection of waqf properties, not a single word has been said about the illegally encroached waqf properties in Karnataka
****************
BJP asked the Chief Minister of Karnataka —what exactly is a "minority locality"? And why has ₹1,000 crore been set aside in a separate budget for its development? If this is not the ghettoization of India, then what is? Can a country, governed by one Constitution and one rule of law, be divided based on Muslim minority localities? Is this what secularism looks like?
****************
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha National President and BJP MP Shri Tejasvi Surya, BJP MPs Shri P.C. Mohan, Capt. Brijesh Chowta and Dr. CN Manjunath jointly addressed a press conference at the party’s headquarters. During the conference, Shri Surya condemned the Karnataka government's proposal for a 4% Muslim reservation in government tenders, calling it unconstitutional and an act of vote-bank politics. He accused Congress of historical appeasement, citing Dr. Ambedkar’s opposition to religion-based quotas. The BJP vowed to challenge this move in courts, Parliament, and public protests, asserting it threatens national unity.
Shri Surya expressed disappointment, anger, and frustration over the Karnataka government's proposal to introduce a 4% reservation for Muslims in government tenders. He stated that the Siddaramaiah government's recent budget, proposed amending the KTPP Act to implement this provision. This move is not only blatantly unconstitutional but also goes against the principles set by the framers of the Constitution, who had out rightly rejected such provisions during its formation. This is also an idea that quoting the words of Dr. Babasaheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar has the potential to ‘Balkanize India.’ The BJP firmly opposes this proposed unconstitutional move and demands from the Siddaramaiah government to immediately rollback this proposed unconstitutional misadventure.
BJYM National President Shri Surya stated that this is not the first time the Congress party has engaged in such actions to appease its vote-bank politics. Since the tenure of Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, Congress has consistently prioritized appeasement of the Muslim minority at the expense of SCs, STs, and OBCs. He recalled that Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar had strongly opposed Pt. Nehru’s appeasement politics, both inside and outside Parliament. In one of his parliamentary addresses, Dr. Ambedkar had criticized Nehru, stating that the Prime Minister thinks only about Muslims never about the welfare of the SCs and STs.
Shri Surya further stated that this trend continues even today, with Congress leadership prioritizing the interests of the Muslim minority over every other community and backward class in the country. Multiple high courts and the Supreme Court have repeatedly ruled that reservations based solely on religion are unconstitutional. Despite being fully aware of this, the Siddaramaiah government has deliberately pushed forward this unconstitutional move as part of a calculated effort to appease its vote bank. This decision is being taken under the direct patronage and direction of the Congress party’s top leadership, particularly Rahul Gandhi.
BJYM National President Shri Surya stated that before the commencement of the Lok Sabha election campaign, Rahul Gandhi traveled across the country echoing the same sentiment previously expressed by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, that minorities have the exclusive and first right over the nation’s resources. This thought is reflected in the Karnataka budget, particularly Rahul Gandhi’s statement, “Jitni Aabadi, Utna Haq.”
Shri Surya questioned the Siddaramaiah government’s claims of upholding secularism, asking whether this is the version of secularism envisioned by the Constitution and Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar, where reservation benefits meant for SCs and STs are diverted to Muslims. He also criticized the government for portraying itself as a champion of Dr. Ambedkar’s ideals and the welfare of backward classes while implementing policies that contradict those very principles.
BJYM National President Shri Surya stated that during the framing of the Constitution, when the idea of granting reservations to minorities based on religion was proposed, Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar vehemently opposed it, expressing his strong disapproval in these words. In 1949, while debating this very idea on the floor of the Constituent Assembly, Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar asserted that reservation of seats for religious minorities on the basis of religion is a "fatal dose for the country". Dividing a country on the basis of religion is dangerous and does not bode well for national unity and integrity. Reservations are meant to safeguard the interests of communities that have historically faced discrimination and social injustice. Religion cannot be the basis for determining backward classes. If separate electorates and communal representation based on religious identities were so vital, why were they not claimed by Muslims when the Minto-Morley Reforms or the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms were being proposed? The principle of reservation should be confined to minority communities that have been systematically discriminated against. Reservations based purely on religion would lead to the Balkanization of India.
Shri Surya remarked that this highlights how strong the opposition to religion-based reservations was, even during the time of Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar. On one hand, the Congress party claims to be the champion of backward classes, the self-appointed custodian of the rights of SCs and STs, and the protector of Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar's legacy. But in reality, this is the kind of politics they practice. Even back in 2004, the Congress-led government in Andhra Pradesh had proposed a 4% reservation for Muslims in government tenders. However, the Andhra Pradesh High Court struck it down. The matter is now pending before a constitutional bench of the Supreme Court. A similar attempt was made in West Bengal, but the West Bengal High Court also quashed it. That case, too, is currently pending before the Supreme Court.
BJYM National President Shri Surya further stated that this patently unconstitutional and prima facie illegal act will be challenged in court. The Bharatiya Janata Party will oppose this move both inside the assembly and on the streets. We will raise this issue in Parliament and protest against it outside as well. Our fight will extend to the courtrooms, and we will take this battle to the people of Karnataka. Until this unconstitutional move is rolled back, the Bharatiya Janata Party's struggle will continue. This action is not only illegal and unconstitutional but, in the words of the great Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar, has the potential to Balkanize India.
Shri Surya stated that it is a threat to national integrity, unity, and sovereignty. Even in the budget, the Siddaramaiah government has made separate provisions for minority-specific schemes, which are again unconstitutional. While ₹150 crore has been allocated for the protection of waqf properties, not a single word has been said about the illegally encroached waqf properties in Karnataka. This, despite the fact that thousands of farmers in the state have been protesting for months against illegal encroachments by waqf properties. Additionally, ₹1,000 crore has been specifically allotted for the development of minority localities.
BJYM National President Shri Surya stated that we must ask the Chief Minister—what exactly is a "minority locality"? And why has ₹1,000 crore been set aside in a separate budget for its development? If this is not the ghettoization of India, then what is? Can a country, governed by one Constitution and one rule of law, be divided based on Muslim minority localities? Is this what secularism looks like? Since when has the government started allocating budgets based on religious areas? The state government is spending ₹1,000 crore specifically for the development of Muslim areas in Karnataka. If we keep dividing a city or a state into sections and such areas then where will the unity of the country be?
Shri Surya asserted that this unconstitutional move must be challenged not only by political parties but also by the fourth estate—the media. The state government's action is being widely condemned, and the Bharatiya Janata Party strongly disapproves of this decision. We will raise this issue in Parliament in the coming days, protest against it in the state assembly, and challenge it legally in court. We will ensure that this blatant tampering with Babasaheb Dr. Ambedkar's Constitution is rejected and ultimately fails.
*****************
LinkedIn 
Pinterest 
To Write Comment Please Login
.gif)