Sadanand Gowda slams Karnataka minority quota hike
Bengaluru, June 20 (UNI) Former chief minister and senior BJP leader DV Sadananda Gowda on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Karnataka government's decision to expand minority-based reservations, calling the move unconstitutional and a dangerous example of appeasement politics.
Reacting strongly to the cabinet's approval to raise the quota for minorities — including Muslims — in government housing schemes from 10% to 15%, Gowda said the decision violates both the spirit and letter of the Constitution.
'The Constitution is very clear — reservations cannot be granted on the basis of caste or religion. The Supreme Court had made this absolutely clear during the earlier 4% reservation issue. Despite this, the state government is going ahead with policies that go against constitutional norms,' he said.
The Karnataka government has projected the hike as part of its broader social-equity initiatives, but Gowda dismissed it as a calculated political manoeuvre aimed at minority appeasement. 'They are trying to portray themselves as champions of equity while actually encouraging religious polarisation for electoral gain,' he said.
He accused the ruling Congress of engaging in blatant vote-bank politics and warned that such decisions would set a dangerous precedent. 'They hold the Constitution in their hands and lecture others, but they don't even understand what's written in it,' he remarked, adding that it reflected a fundamental failure of governance.
Gowda further alleged that communal incidents under the current regime were not isolated but indicative of a deeper problem. 'Killings based on religious identity are happening, and it is this government that is providing the ideological fuel. This is not governance — this is incitement,' he charged.
According to him, the move to raise quotas for minorities also sends out the wrong message. 'They are telling a particular community — do whatever you like, we are here for you, and the government treasury will be used exclusively for your benefit,' he said, terming it 'unfortunate and reckless politics.'
Calling it a 'breaking development with far-reaching consequences,' Gowda warned that the public must remain alert to what he described as 'emerging scandals under the guise of welfare.'
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