New Delhi, Mar 15 (UNI) The BJP on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the latter is responsible for the Karnataka government's decision to grant 4 percent reservation for Muslim contractors in government tenders.
"They are not learning their lesson even after losing multiple times. This reservation in Karnataka has been extended at the patronage of Rahul Gandhi. Siddaramaiah does not have the courage or the political capital to announce this on his own," Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said while addressing a press conference here.
Prasad, who is BJP MP from Bihar, accused the former Congress President of pushing the Siddaramaiah-led government into implementing the move as part of "competitive votebank politics. "Rahul Gandhi thinks he can lead with this divisive politics of appeasement. The new standards the Congress is setting in votebank politics are harmful to the nation," he asserted.
Lashing out at the Congress, Prasad further stated, "The BJP is against this, and we will keep opposing it. Religion-based reservation is not permissible under the Indian Constitution. Reservation on government contracts is completely unconstitutional. It can be allowed on the basis of social backwardness, but it is not permissible to provide it directly to a religious community."
The Senior BJP leader also emphasised the broader political ramifications of the decision, stating, "This issue is of Karnataka, but it has nationwide implications. This also signals the mentality of Congress and Rahul Gandhi. The Karnataka Government, under his influence, has publicly announced a 4% reservation for Muslim contractors in government tenders. Such a move undermines the constitutional framework of reservations."
The BJP has vowed to challenge the decision through legal and political means, with party leaders indicating they would explore all available democratic options.
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