Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 19 : After the Karnataka Cabinet approved increase in reservation for minorities under various housing schemes, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi called the move 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 religion-based reservation. This reduces the quota for OBC, ST and the 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."
Meanwhile, responding to the decision, BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya issued a scathing statement on social media, calling it "brazen," "blatantly illegal" and "unconstitutional."
He said that for short-term political gains, "Congress is determined to sow the seeds of division, polarise communities, and rip apart the social fabric of Karnataka."
"This is brazen. Blatantly illegal and unconstitutional. There can be no reservation on the basis of religion -- the Constitution is unambiguous on this. Yet, the Congress government in Karnataka is hell-bent on pushing religious quotas to appease its vote bank. This isn't governance, it's dangerous social engineering. Congress is determined to sow the seeds of division, polarise communities, and rip apart the social fabric of Karnataka -- all for short-term political gain. Karnataka deserves better," he said.
However, responding over the state government decision Minister of Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Legislation, HK Patil clarified that this move does not require any new rules, as the existing framework already accommodates such modifications.
"Housing for all is to be implemented. And right now we see that houses are more in various downtrodden and minorities. We have increased the housing reservation from 10 to 15 looking at the ground realities, he said while speaking to media.
"Government is very particular that those who are houseless and whichever community they belong all should get housing," he added further.
The move will apply to all housing schemes implemented by the Urban and Rural Development Departments across the state.