The Karnataka government’s 2025 budget, presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has ignited a major political controversy, with the BJP accusing Congress of appeasement politics over the allocation of funds for minority welfare programs.
The budget earmarks significant funds for Muslim welfare, including:
- ₹1,000 crore for minority development
- ₹150 crore for Waqf property protection
- ₹100 crore for Urdu schools
- A ₹6,000 monthly honorarium for Imams
- 4% reservation in public works contracts for Muslims under Category-II B
The provisions have drawn sharp criticism from BJP leaders, who claim the budget is unconstitutional and discriminatory towards other communities.
BJP Calls Karnataka Budget "Appeasement Politics"
The BJP IT Cell chief, Amit Malviya, took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the budget, calling it a continuation of Congress’s "appeasement policies."Malviya compared the allocations to a 2006 statement by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, where he said Muslims must have the “first claim on resources.” According to Malviya, the Karnataka budget mirrors the same approach, prioritizing Muslims over Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs).Malviya further accused the Congress of violating the Constitution by providing religion-based reservations. "No reservation can be provided on the basis of religion. India will not let the Congress succeed with their sinister plans," he wrote.The official BJP Karnataka handle also slammed the budget, calling it a "Halal Budget" and alleging that it focuses disproportionately on Muslim welfare while neglecting other communities.
BJP Lists Budget Provisions for Muslims
The BJP’s post listed multiple budget provisions that they claimed exclusively benefit the Muslim community, including:
- ₹50,000 assistance for Muslim simple marriages
- ₹150 crore for infrastructure development of Waqf properties and graveyards
- ₹50 lakh for Muslim cultural programs
- A new ITI college in Muslim-dominated areas
- 50% fee concession for Muslim students under KEA
- A residential PU college for Muslim girls in Ullal town
- Expansion of Bengaluru’s Haj Bhavan
- Self-defense training for Muslim girl students
BJP leaders have criticized the Congress government, asking why similar allocations were not made for SCs, STs, and OBCs. "What about SCs, STs, and OBCs? Absolutely nothing!" the BJP’s post read.
BJP MP PC Mohan Joins the Attack
BJP MP PC Mohan also joined the criticism, posting an image of a coconut shell, symbolizing Hindus being left empty-handed in the budget. He claimed that the Congress government was prioritizing Muslims at the expense of the majority community, further escalating the political row.
Congress Defends Budget Allocations
In response to BJP’s criticism, Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan defended the budget, dismissing claims of religious favoritism.
"A ₹4.9 lakh crore budget has been presented. How is this a minorities budget?" he asked.
Khan argued that:
- Muslims constitute 14% of Karnataka’s population.
- The budget allocated ₹4,700 crore for Muslims, but as per their population share, they should have received ₹60,000 crore.
- The BJP’s accusations were baseless and ignored the allocations made for minority education.
Political Fallout and Implications
The Karnataka budget controversy is expected to deepen the political divide between the Congress-led state government and the BJP opposition.The reservations for Muslims in public works contracts are particularly contentious, as BJP leaders claim it sets a dangerous precedent for religion-based quotas. The matter is likely to escalate legally and politically, with opposition leaders calling for judicial review of the allocations.With both BJP and Congress gearing up for future elections, the budget debate is becoming a major flashpoint in Karnataka politics, fueling larger national discussions on reservations, governance, and religious representation in policymaking.As the controversy unfolds, all eyes are on whether the Congress government will revise its allocations or stand firm on its budgetary priorities.
