In a fresh political attack, BJP Member of Parliament (MP) Anurag Thakur has strongly criticized the Congress party for its handling of the 4% Muslim reservation quota bill passed by the Karnataka Assembly. Thakur accused the Congress of engaging in “appeasement politics” and following a “Divide and Rule” strategy under the direction of party leader Rahul Gandhi.
Speaking to the media, Thakur claimed that the Karnataka Congress leaders’ push for the 4% reservation for Muslims in government contracts is a blatant attempt to garner Muslim votes ahead of upcoming elections. He further argued that the bill violates existing laws and warned that Congress would have to face legal and political consequences for their actions.
“This is a clear play for Muslim votes at the cost of legal and constitutional integrity. The Karnataka Congress is willing to go to any length, even at the risk of breaking the law, to secure votes. The 4% reservation being given to Muslims in government contracts is a direct violation of the law,” Thakur remarked. He added that the Congress party, despite suffering numerous electoral defeats in recent years, continues to follow the same divisive tactics in an effort to regain its political footing.
The comments came in the wake of recent developments in Karnataka, where the state assembly passed the controversial bill providing a 4% reservation for Muslims in government contracts. This move has sparked widespread debate and criticism from opposition parties, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who argue that such measures are driven by electoral calculations rather than legal or ethical considerations.
In addition to his criticism of the reservation bill, Thakur also addressed the suspension of 18 BJP Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) by the Karnataka Assembly. The suspended MLAs have been accused of disrupting proceedings during the debate on the reservation bill. Thakur described the suspension as a politically motivated move to silence dissent and suppress opposition voices within the assembly.
The political temperature in Karnataka has risen significantly with the introduction of the reservation bill, with both the ruling Congress party and opposition BJP engaging in a fierce war of words. While Congress defends the bill as a measure to uplift the Muslim community and ensure fair representation, the BJP remains adamant that it is nothing more than a politically charged move to win Muslim votes.
Political analysts believe the developments in Karnataka could have a significant impact on the state’s upcoming elections. As the debate over the 4% reservation quota intensifies, both the Congress and BJP are likely to make the issue a central part of their electoral campaigns.
The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has consistently accused the Congress of using identity politics to further its own agenda. Thakur’s remarks are in line with this broader narrative, positioning the BJP as a party committed to national unity and the rule of law, in contrast to the Congress’ alleged appeasement tactics.
As tensions between the two parties escalate, all eyes will be on the legal and political fallout from the controversial reservation bill. The coming weeks are expected to witness intense political maneuvering as Karnataka heads toward its next round of elections.
