New Delhi [India], March 15 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday came out heavily against the Karnataka government's decision to grant 4 per cent reservation for Muslim contractors in government projects, calling it 'appeasement politics' of the Congress and warning about its 'nationwide implications'.

Criticising the move further, the BJP said the Congress party is 'not learning its lesson' despite losing multiple elections.

Speaking on the issue, Prasad said, 'This issue is of Karnataka, but it has nationwide implications. This also signals the mentality of Congress and Rahul Gandhi. The Karnataka Government in the budget has publicly announced a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in government contracts.'

He further questioned the expansion of reservation policies beyond employment, saying, 'Till now, we used to think only about jobs, but now reservation is being done even in government contracts. And in that too, 4 per cent has been reserved for Muslims.'

The former Union Minister strongly asserted that the BJP is completely against religion-based reservation and will continue to oppose this.

'The BJP is against this, and we will keep opposing it...Religion-based reservation is not permissible under the Indian Constitution...Reservation on government contracts is completely unconstitutional...It can be allowed on the basis of social backwardness...but it is not permissible (to provide) directly to a religious community,' he further added.

Notably, the Karnataka government's decision has sparked a political debate.

The BJP has condemned it as communal favoritism, while the Congress-led administration maintains that the move is aimed at ensuring inclusivity in economic opportunities.

Prasad launched a sharp attack on the Karnataka government and the Congress leadership over the decision to grant 4 per cent reservation for Muslim contractors in government projects and accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of orchestrating the move for political gains.

Taking a jibe at the Congress party, he further remarked, 'They are not learning their lesson even after losing multiple times. This reservation in Karnataka has been extended at the patronage of Rahul Gandhi. Siddaramaiah does not have the courage or the political capital to announce this on his own.'

He further accused Rahul Gandhi of fueling vote bank politics, stating, 'Rahul Gandhi thinks he can lead with this competitive politics of votebank. The new standards the Congress is setting in appeasement and votebank politics are harmful to the nation.'

The Karnataka cabinet on Saturday approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, which will aim to provide a four percent reservation to Muslim contractors in tenders, official sources said.

Earlier on March 7, Chief Minsiter Siddaramaiah confirmed that four per cent of public works contracts will now be reserved for Muslims under a category called Category-II B, while presenting Karnataka government's Budget.

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 1 crore, in which Category-II B refers to Muslims. (ANI)