Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has hinted towards the revival of the 4% Muslim reservation under the 2B category of Other Backward Classes (OBC) list. Speaking during the winter legislative session in Belagavi on Monday, he termed the BJP government’s decision to scrap this quota as an “injustice.” Siddaramaiah pointed out the contradiction between the BJP’s 2023 affidavit to the Supreme Court, which pledged to maintain the status quo, and its subsequent move to abolish the reservation.
The 4% reservation for Muslims was first introduced in 1994 by the Congress government led by Veerappa Moily, providing representation to backward religious minorities under the OBC framework. However, in 2023, the BJP government, under Basavaraj Bommai, scrapped this policy and redistributed the 4% quota equally among the Veerashaiva-Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities, classified under the 3A and 3B categories, respectively. Muslims were shifted to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category, drawing criticism for diluting benefits meant for the socially and educationally backward.
Siddaramaiah’s remarks also came amidst protests by Panchamasali Lingayats, who have been demanding inclusion in the more advantageous 2A category of the OBC list. Responding to concerns raised by BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal over restrictions on the Panchamasalis’ planned protest, the Chief Minister clarified that decisions regarding backward class classifications rest with the permanent Backward Classes Commission. He reiterated his government’s commitment to justice for all communities while ensuring that legal and procedural norms are followed.
