Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India]: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday strongly defended the state government’s decision to grant reservation in public tenders to minority contractors, following sharp criticism from Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day.
Addressing reporters, Shivakumar said the Congress government’s intent is to uplift all marginalized communities, including minorities, Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs), by creating equal opportunities for economic inclusion.
“We are also giving reservations to SC/ST communities. Our aim is to uplift those who are not financially capable and bring them into the mainstream. The Congress party pays attention to every section of society,” Shivakumar stated.
His remarks came in response to PM Modi’s speech in Hisar, where the Prime Minister lashed out at the Congress for allegedly using the Constitution for appeasement and vote-bank politics. Modi accused Congress of dishonoring Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s legacy, and of prioritizing political gains over genuine welfare.
He claimed that Congress had turned constitutional provisions for reservation into a tool for appeasement, citing the Karnataka government’s recent move to provide a 4% reservation in government tenders to minority contractors—something he argued was not permitted under the Constitution.
Shivakumar dismissed the criticism, emphasizing that the policy was part of a broader effort to ensure social justice and financial empowerment across all underprivileged sections, not just one community.
Meanwhile, PM Modi highlighted the strides made under his government for SC, ST, and OBC communities, including expanding tap water access to 80% of rural households and constructing over 11 crore toilets to restore dignity for the marginalized.
He accused Congress of ignoring these communities for decades and manipulating constitutional tools for power. He also cited the 2013 amendment to the Waqf Act as evidence of Congress’s alleged vote-bank politics.
Modi added, “If the Congress truly cared about Muslims, they would have made a Muslim the party president or given 50% of their election tickets to Muslim candidates. Their intentions have never aligned with true welfare.”
The Karnataka Cabinet had on March 14 approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, allowing 4% reservation in government tenders for minority contractors. The move has since sparked a political storm, becoming a flashpoint in the broader debate on social justice and constitutional integrity.