Hubballi (Karnataka) [India], June 20 : BJP MP Jagadish Shettar on Friday accused the Congress of playing appeasement politics to secure Muslim votes after the Karnataka government decided to increase housing reservation for minority communities from 10 per cent to 15 per cent.
Speaking to ANI, Shettar said, "From the beginning, whatever is possible, the Congress govt does it just to gain Muslim votes -- that's why they indulge in appeasement politics. First, they announced a 4 per cent reservation in contracts, which has now been challenged in court and is pending. Now, they're giving reservations in housing allotments..."
But BJP MP Shettar slammed the move, calling it politically motivated. "Limited appeasement is one thing, but this is excessive. The Congress party has only survived because of Muslim support," Shettar added.
He also warned that such decisions could backfire for the ruling party. "Due to all these appeasement policies, the time will come when the Congress govt will collapse," he said.
Earlier in the day, Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra strongly criticised the state cabinet's decision to increase reservation for minorities under various housing schemes from 10 per cent to 15 per cent, calling it appeasement politics by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government.
Speaking to ANI, Vijayendra said, "...Chief Minister Siddaramaiah can stoop to any level to appease minorities...This is unconstitutional...Instead of doing appeasement politics, they should stress on providing education to the minorities...BJP is not against minorities, but is against anti-national elements...We will take up this issue in the assembly and also hit the streets."
Vijayendra questioned the Congress's claim of following Ambedkar's ideology, saying, "Congress leaders, including CM Siddaramaiah, repeatedly claim they're champions of the Dalits... but this is not what people expect."
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi also condemned the move, calling it unconstitutional by referring to the Supreme Court's 'rejection' of religion-based reservation.
Speaking to ANI, Joshi said, "This is against the Constitution. The Supreme Court has also rejected a religion-based reservation. This reduces the quota for OBC, ST, and poor people from the general caste. The Karnataka government is doing the politics of appeasement. I condemn this. We will also approach the court against this."
On Thursday, the Karnataka Cabinet approved an increase in the reservation quota for minority communities under various housing schemes from 10 per cent to 15 per cent.