New Delhi. The latest move by Karnataka’s Congress government is likely to further heat up politics. National Commission for Backward Classes Chairman Hansraj Ahir has issued a statement alleging that the Karnataka government has included Muslims in the backward class i.e. OBC to provide the benefits of reservation. Hansraj Ahir’s statement has come just before the voting of the second phase of Lok Sabha elections and this may create problems for the Congress in Karnataka.
As per the data from Karnataka government, all castes and communities of Muslims of Karnataka have been included in the list of OBCs for reservation in employment and educational institutions under the state govt. Under Category II-B, all Muslims of Karnataka state have been… pic.twitter.com/eh1IYF3FX0
— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2024
Hansraj Ahir has said in the statement that according to the data of Karnataka Government, all sections of Muslims in the state have been included in the list of OBCs for providing reservation in employment and educational institutions under the state government. All Muslims in Karnataka are considered OBC under Category IIB. Hansraj Ahir has told that the number of Muslims in Karnataka is 12.92 percent. He has said in his release that in Karnataka, Muslims have also got the freedom to contest elections on 32 percent seats reserved for OBCs in local bodies.
National Backward Commission Chairman Hansraj Ahir in his statement has also mentioned those sections of Muslims whose social and economic condition is good. Hansraj Ahir has told that the decision to include Muslims in the OBC quota was taken by the then Congress government of Karnataka in March 2002. The Chairman of the National Backward Commission has said in his statement that with this step the rights of the real OBCs in Karnataka are being snatched away. The statement of National Backward Commission Chairman in this regard can become a big issue against Congress in the Lok Sabha elections. PM Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders are continuously accusing Congress of being pro-Muslim and appeasement. Congress is still in power in Karnataka. In such a situation, the issue of curtailing the rights of backward classes in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections can create problems for the Congress as a major issue.