BJP slams Siddaramaiah's 'Halal budget', accuses Karnataka Congress of minority appeasement

The Karnataka BJP has dubbed the state budget as a "Halal budget" and accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of “minority appeasement”.

BJP Karnataka took to X to criticise the Congress government and stated “Scam Cm Siddaramaiah in Karnataka presents a Halal Budget- appeasement at its peak”, listing down the budget allocations made for the Muslim community.

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Amit Malviya, BJP’s national IT department in charge, in his X post said, “This is not Karnataka Congress budget but that of New Muslim League- Muslim appeasement at its peak.”

The BJP’s list of Budget allocations and programmes that qualified as “appeasement” included reservation for Muslims in government contracts, ₹50,000 assistance for Muslim marriages, ₹150 crore for infrastructure development of Waqf properties and graveyards, ₹50 lakh for Muslim cultural programmes, new ITI college to be set up in Muslim-dominated areas, 50% fee concession for Muslim students under KEA, residential PU college for girls in Ullal town, increase in national and foreign scholarships for students, expansion of Bengaluru’s Haj Bhavan with additional buildings and self-defense training for girl students.

Malviya recalled that, on December 9, 2006, Dr. Manmohan Singh, then Congress Prime Minister, had said that the Congress government had to devise innovative plans to ensure that minorities, particularly the Muslim minority, are empowered to share equitably in the fruits of development. They must have the “first claim” on resources.

“It was a premeditated statement because, on April 14, 2009, in the run-up to the Lok Sabha election, Dr. Manmohan Singh, when asked about it, reiterated his stance, stating that minorities, especially poor Muslims, should get priority when it comes to the nation’s resources. He categorically affirmed that he stood by his earlier assertion that Muslims should have the first right to resources. Today, while presenting the Karnataka government budget, CM Siddaramaiah confirmed that 4 % of public works contracts will be reserved for Muslims under Category - II B. Reservation will be provided in the procurement of goods and services under various government departments, corporations, and institutions for suppliers belonging to SC, ST, Category-I, Category-II A, and Category-II B, up to Rs one crore.”

Malviya argued that Congress was hell-bent on “undermining” the rights of SCs, STs, and OBCs, as enshrined in the Constitution.

“No reservation can be provided on the basis of religion. India will not let the Congress succeed with their sinister plans,” he added.

Leader of Opposition in Assembly R Ashok said it was Siddaramaiah's thanksgiving budget to Muslim voters.  

Vijayapura MLA and BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal said it was a "Halal budget" and also Siddaramaiah's “last” budget.

State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra stated that the budget was a Congress “blueprint for appeasement”.

“Where is the budget for real growth? Farmers, youth and rural Karnataka are left behind while Congress focuses only on its vote bank. This is not governance, but a betrayal of Karnataka’s future,” said Vijayendra, adding that the Congress had prioritised appeasement over real development, when farmers were struggling with debts and crop losses and rural Karnataka suffered from lack of roads, power and irrigation facilities, SC/ST hostels remained underfunded and youth deprived of skill development and jobs.

Elaborating on the issue, the BJP leader claimed that the CM had allocated ₹500 crore for Moulana Azad Schools while rural government schools remained underfunded.

“When MSMEs and rural entrepreneurs get no support, the CM has given special business schemes for minorities. The government has borrowed ₹1.16 lakh crore and there is a fiscal deficit of ₹90,428 crore. But the ruling Congress is spending on selective appeasement instead of empowering all,” mocked Vijayendra.

The veteran leader slammed the government stating that religious reservation to Muslim contractors was against the Constitution and alleged that the debt burden had increased, Kalyan Karnataka region had been neglected and the CM was mum over the implementation of the last budget announcements. “More than 2,000 farmer suicides have been reported yet there are no special schemes for their welfare. Development work is being neglected in the name of guarantees and development of Bengaluru is not a priority,” he said.

Waqf and minority welfare minister Zameer Ahmed Khan defended the budget allocation. “The budget size is ₹4.09 lakh crore and the Muslim population is 14 per cent.  The CM has allocated ₹4,700 crore for Muslim development. The allocation should have been around ₹60,000 crore, proportional to the population. He has given the funds for education,” said Khan.