Yogesh K Porwar
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that the Congress government is committed to inclusive development rejecting the politics of hatred and division being pushed by BJP.
Hitting out at BJP that questioned his government’s decision to increase quota for minorities in housing schemes, CM Siddaramaiah said that the Cabinet has approved a decision to enhance the earmarking for minority beneficiaries,including Christians,Jains,Muslims,etc,under state-run housing schemes in a calibrated manner,in line with the Union Government’s own guidelines.
This is based on the Prime Minister’s 15-Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities (2019),which clearly directs all Central and State implementing agencies to earmark 15% of physical and financial targets for minorities wherever possible.
This guideline is issued by the BJP-led Union Government and has been in force for years.
If this was unconstitutional or appeasement,why did the Union Government ask all states to follow it?.Why is it being implemented under Central schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana?.
Our decision does not grant blanket enhancement of quota across the state. It only addresses a specific implementation challenge.
In many panchayats where the minority population is less than 10%, the mandated 10% earmarking could not be utilised.
To ensure optimal use of the allocated targets and avoid lapses, we have allowed the gap from such panchayats to be reallocated to those with a higher minority population, subject to a cap of 15%.
This is an administrative adjustment within the unreserved category and does not affect SC, ST, or OBC reservations in any manner.
The decision is legally sound and has been cleared by the Law Department after thorough review.
The BJP’s reaction is both hypocritical and politically motivated.The same party that implements the 15% target at the national level is now accusing Karnataka of appeasement for merely applying the same principle to its state schemes.
If the BJP has any objection,they must first explain why their own government continues to operate under the same guidelines and why it expects other states to do the same.
This selective outrage is nothing but an attempt to stoke communal sentiments and derail efforts meant to uplift the poorest and most marginalised families in the state.
Over 34,000 additional minority families,most of them landless and in need of housing,will benefit from this decision in the current year alone.
Where no minority applicants are found in a panchayat, the unutilised share will be reallocated to where there is higher need,ensuring that not a single house remains unbuilt due to technical rigidities.
This approach ensures equity,efficiency,and full utilisation of resources,while remaining fully compliant with constitutional provisions.
The Congress government in Karnataka is committed to inclusive development.We reject the politics of hatred and division being pushed by the BJP.
Our governance model is rooted in justice,equity,and compassion,and we will continue to implement schemes that reach every poor household, irrespective of caste or religion.
We urge BJP leaders to rise above narrow political calculations and support measures that truly uplift the poor, instead of trying to block their path with misinformation and communal rhetoric.
