BJP scrapped Muslim quota in Karnataka to trigger communal strife: H D Kumaraswamy
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Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said on Monday that the BJP government in the state scrapped the 4 percent reservation of Muslims under 2B category to trigger conflict between Hindus and Muslims and to reap benefits from it electorally.
The Basavaraj Bommai-led government has scrapped 4 percent OBC reservation for Muslims which will be given to Vokkaligas (2 percent) and Lingayats (2 percent), two dominant forward castes. Two new reservation categories of 2C and 2D were created for them during the Belagavi Assembly Session last year.
Muslims will now be moved to 10 percent Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category left to compete with EWS quota, which has Brahmins, Vysyas, Mudaliyars, Jains and others.
“The objective behind the decision is the policy of divide and rule employed by the BJP. They think that if Muslims hit the streets (to protest), they will benefit from it. Fortunately, Muslims have remained peaceful,” Kumaraswamy said.
He has advised the minority community to challenge the Karnataka Cabinet decision legally. “The main objective is to stir conflict between Hindus and Muslims to reap political dividends,” JD(S) leader said.
Kumaraswamy questioned the basis on which the decision to scrap quotas was made and sought to know whether the government had sought the recommendation or suggestions of the Backward Classes Commission.
“What was the basis for the announcement? This announcement will just remain on paper….. Even the reservation hiked for SC/STs will not be implemented in the Ninth Schedule. Now they are trying to fool Vokkaligas and Lingayats with additional reservation, the legal status of which is still unclear,” he said.
On Prime Minister Modi’s statements against the Congress for raising the slogan ‘Modi teri kabar khudegi (Modi, your grave would be dug)’, Kumaraswamy said it was Modi who was digging the grave of the Indian Constitution.
“Who can bury you? We are seeing who is being finished off… Democratic and constitutional bodies are being buried by you,” he said, adding that a Prime Minister making such remarks does not augur well for the position he was in.
