BJP leader Mahesh Tenginkai has sharply criticized the Karnataka government’s decision to approve a 4% minority quota in government contracts, accusing the Congress party of indulging in “appeasement politics” since coming to power in the state.
Tenginkai, in a statement, stated that the Congress government’s move to introduce the quota was part of a broader agenda of political appeasement. “Since Congress came to power in the state, they are doing this appeasement politics. Those who pelted stones at police in Hubballi, Congress released them. They have done many such things,” he said, referring to a past incident in Hubballi where violence broke out and several individuals were arrested but later released under the Congress government.
The BJP leader’s comments come in the wake of the Karnataka government’s approval to reserve 4% of government contracts for minority communities, a decision that has sparked political debate in the state. The Congress claims that the measure is aimed at promoting social equity and ensuring that minority communities are given equal opportunities, while critics, like Tenginkai, argue that such decisions may be driven by political motives to appease certain voter blocs.
Tenginkai’s remarks also reflected the broader criticism from the opposition regarding Congress’s handling of law and order and its alleged leniency toward actions that could be seen as politically motivated. His statement indicates the ongoing tension between the ruling Congress party and the opposition BJP, with both sides accusing each other of playing politics for electoral gain.
As the political debate intensifies, the minority quota policy and its implications for governance and social harmony in Karnataka continue to be a point of contention.