Bengaluru: In a sharp escalation of the political battle over religion-based reservations, Union Minister for Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi announced that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will launch both legal and political action against the Congress-led Karnataka Government’s decision to allocate 15 per cent reservation for Muslims in housing schemes. Calling the move “a blatant violation of the Constitution” and an act of “appeasement politics,” Joshi said the party would not allow such communal policies to go unchallenged.
Addressing the media in Bengaluru, Joshi said, “The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that religion cannot be the sole basis for granting reservations. The Karnataka government’s decision to provide 15 per cent housing quota for Muslims is illegal, unconstitutional, and discriminatory towards other disadvantaged communities.”
Joshi accused the state government of ignoring constitutional provisions and Supreme Court directives in order to further a vote-bank agenda. “It is shocking that a democratically elected government is now attempting to allocate state benefits on the basis of religion, not economic or social backwardness. This is a betrayal of the poor from SC, ST, OBC, and other general communities,” he said.
The BJP leader pointed out that this is not the first instance of religion-based reservation introduced by the current government. Earlier, 4 per cent reservation was granted to Muslim contractors in construction work under the state’s orders, reportedly based on instructions from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Now, the Cabinet’s move to extend a 15% quota in housing projects for Muslims has intensified criticism from the opposition, with the BJP framing it as a “dangerous and divisive” precedent.
“This kind of reservation doesn’t exist anywhere else in the country. The Congress government is shamelessly pushing a communal agenda in the name of social justice,” Joshi added.
He further stated that most housing projects in the state, particularly under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), are centrally funded. “How can the state government impose unconstitutional quotas in schemes where central funds are involved? The move undermines the principle of equality and fairness enshrined in the Constitution,” Joshi asked.
Asserting that the BJP will not remain a silent spectator, Joshi made it clear that his party is preparing to mount a legal battle in the courts while simultaneously mobilizing public opinion against what he termed a “clear case of religious appeasement.” The BJP’s legal team is reportedly examining the Cabinet notification and preparing a petition to be filed in the Karnataka High Court.
Criticizing the Congress government for what he called “electoral communalism,” Joshi said, “This is a clear strategy to divide communities ahead of elections. They are using public resources to placate one community at the cost of others. It is a textbook case of vote-bank politics that weakens the secular fabric of our democracy.”
The announcement comes amid rising tensions in the state, with several civil society groups, legal experts, and opposition parties questioning the legality and morality of religion-specific welfare policies. The BJP is planning to hold protests across the state and may also raise the issue in the upcoming monsoon session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, which is scheduled to begin on August 11.
Today, the Karnataka government's decision to provide 15% reservation based on religion is a clear violation of the Constitution. Earlier, on the instructions of Rahul Gandhi, Siddaramaiah and his team had granted 4% reservation in government contracts, and now they have extended… pic.twitter.com/4JjG4aeu8G
— Pralhad Joshi (@JoshiPralhad) June 19, 2025
Joshi also expressed deep concern over reports that religion-based quotas might soon be extended to other sectors, including employment and education. “There is talk that this government is toying with the idea of extending similar religious quotas in recruitment and even in defense. That would be a dangerous path to walk,” he warned.
In conclusion, Joshi called on the citizens of Karnataka, especially the youth, to reject such policies that “foster division instead of development.” He reaffirmed that the BJP remains committed to constitutional values, equality of opportunity, and merit-based governance.
“Our stand is clear—no reservation should be given solely on religious grounds. This policy will only deepen social divides and harm national integration. We will fight it—on the streets, in the courts, and in the hearts and minds of the people,” Joshi declared.
