Good news for many people. The Karnataka government rolled out its budget on Friday, unveiling plans worth around Rs 4700 crore aimed at the Muslim community. This has sparked a political uproar in the state. The budget includes a monthly stipend of Rs 6,000 for mosque Imams, Rs 150 crore for safeguarding Waqf properties, Rs 100 crore for Urdu schools, and Rs 1,000 crore dedicated to minority welfare.
Additionally, it was announced that 4% of contracts in the Public Works Department will be set aside for the Muslim community.
In response, BJP spokesperson Anil Antony remarked that the budget seems to draw inspiration from Aurangzeb, suggesting that Congress is mirroring the Muslim League led by Mohammad Ali Jinnah. He criticized the Karnataka government for appearing to favor one community, questioning if “minority” in Karnataka only refers to Muslims.
The Karnataka BJP took to X, labeling the budget as a “halal budget,” claiming that SC, ST, and OBC groups received nothing from it. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya stated that reservations shouldn’t be based on religion, asserting that Congress’s strategy will fail in India.
He referenced former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s comments, arguing that the Siddaramaiah government is following a similar approach, which he believes undermines SC, ST, and OBC communities. Dr. Singh had previously stated that minorities, tribals, women, and backward groups should have the first claim on the nation’s resources.