Bengaluru, March 21:<\/p>\n
In a dramatic turn of events, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Friday passed a controversial bill granting 4% reservation to Muslims under Category 2B of the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in public procurement contracts. The move, spearheaded by the ruling Congress government, triggered a fierce protest from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators, culminating in the suspension of 18 BJP MLAs for unruly conduct.<\/p>\n
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The bill, introduced by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil on behalf of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, amends the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act. It earmarks 4% of civil works contracts up to Rs 2 crore and goods and services contracts up to Rs 1 crore for Muslims listed under OBC Category 2B.<\/p>\n
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Speaker UT Khader ordered the suspension of 18 BJP members for six months following scenes of chaos in the Assembly. Earlier in the day, BJP legislators stormed the well of the House, tore documents, and disrupted proceedings, mistakenly believing that the finance bill tabled was related to the Muslim quota.<\/p>\n
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The Congress defended the bill as a step toward ensuring social justice and economic empowerment for minorities, emphasizing that the demand for inclusion under Category 2B has been longstanding. At present, Karnataka allocates 24% reservation in public contracts for SC\/STs, 4% for OBC Category 1, and 15% for Category 2A.<\/p>\n
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The BJP has denounced the move as unconstitutional and an example of \u201cappeasement politics,\u201d vowing to challenge the legislation legally and politically.<\/p>\n
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As the debate intensifies, the bill\u2019s passage marks a significant policy shift in Karnataka\u2019s approach to public procurement and minority inclusion.<\/p>\n
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