Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 20 : Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC on Friday criticised the Congress government in Karnataka over its decision to increase reservation quota for minorities in various housing schemes, accusing it of engaging in "appeasement" politics and said that the decision would affect the reservation for the other marginalised communities, including Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
"The Karnataka Congress government has always played appeasement. The decision to increase the reservation for minorities in housing allotment to 15 per cent would affect the reservation for the scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and OBCs besides the general quota," Shaina NC told ANI.
She said that the Karnataka government's decision was "unconstitutional" because the constitution does not allow reservation based on religion.
"This is unconstitutional because there has never been a provision under the constitution to provide such a reservation for particular communities when the constitution clearly states that a reservation can't be given on the basis of religion," the Shiv Sena leader said.
The decision has sparked strong criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party, whose state unit president, Vijayendra Yediyurappa, also called it "unconstitutional" and accused the Congress of indulging in vote-bank politics.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Minister Santosh Lad said the central government has recommended increasing the reservation quota by 10 to 15 per cent, which is mentioned in the cabinet note. He criticised the BJP for raising objections, suggesting they read up on "things."
"The Government of India takes this initiative, and there are guidelines from the Government of India, as per which they had a meeting with the Chief Secretary. Throughout India, an increase of 10-15 per cent is recommended by the Government of India...They (BJP) always have to criticise, and the reason is that they don't read things. You, please go through the cabinet note," Lad told ANI.
Earlier, Karnataka Housing and Minority Welfare Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan defended the government's decision to increase minority reservations in housing schemes from 10 per cent to 15 per cent, claiming that it was not a new decision but based on a 2019 recommendation.
"Decision to reserve 15 per cent for minorities in housing schemes is not a decision taken now. The cabinet subcommittee formed in 2019 when HD Kumaraswamy was the Chief Minister in the coalition government had recommended it," Khan said.
He noted that the central government already follows a 15 per cent reservation for minorities in housing schemes, as per the 2006 Sachar Committee report. "There was a demand that the same should be given in the state. Therefore, the central model has been followed," he added.