Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has indicated that the state government may reinstate the 4% reservation for Muslims under the 2B category of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list. This move aims to address what Siddaramaiah described as an “injustice” caused by the previous BJP government’s decision to scrap the reservation and redistribute it.
Speaking on Monday, December 9, during the first day of the winter legislative session in Belagavi, Siddaramaiah referred to the affidavit submitted by the BJP government to the Supreme Court, which had stated that the status quo on Muslim reservations would be maintained. “I will place the affidavit before the House on Tuesday,” he said, highlighting the inconsistency between the BJP’s affidavit and its subsequent actions.
The 2B category under Karnataka’s OBC classification is designated for backward religious minorities, including Muslims. The 4% reservation for Muslims under this category was initially introduced in 1994 by the Congress government led by Veerappa Moily.
The BJP government, under Basavaraj Bommai, scrapped this reservation in 2023 and reallocated the 4% quota equally between the Veerashaiva-Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities, classified under the 3A and 3B categories, respectively. Muslims were instead moved to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category. This decision, made ahead of the May 2023 Assembly elections, drew criticism from various quarters, including the Congress party.
During Monday’s session, BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal raised concerns about restrictions on the Panchamasali Lingayat community’s protest scheduled for December 10, prompting Siddaramaiah’s remarks. The Panchamasali Lingayats have been demanding inclusion in the 2A category of the OBC list, which offers more significant benefits.
In response, Siddaramaiah clarified that the Congress government is not opposed to the Panchamasalis’ demands but emphasized that decisions regarding backward class classifications are under the purview of the permanent Backward Classes Commission. Home Minister G Parameshwara added that restrictions on the protest were imposed by the district administration to avoid disruptions to the ongoing legislative session.