Bengaluru, March 15: The Karnataka government has decided to provide a 4 per cent reservation to Muslims in government contracts, along with oppressed and backward classes. Sources confirmed that the Cabinet has approved the proposal, and a Bill in this regard will be presented before the state legislature during the ongoing Budget Session.

The Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, 1999, after amendment aims to provide 4 per cent reservation in tenders to Muslim contractors in government contracts up to Rs 1 crore, the sources stated.

The Cabinet has also approved the limit for the SC, ST community which has been extended from Rs 1 crore to Rs 2 crore.

Minority leaders had submitted a request to reserve 4 per cent of contract works for Muslim contractors, similar to the reservations provided for SC, ST, and other backward communities.

Considering the request, the government has decided to implement the reservation. A Cabinet meeting was held under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, where discussions were conducted regarding the introduction of the Bill.

The Karnataka government has been contemplating introducing a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims in civil contracts on lines with the reservation provided to the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Communities and Backward Classes.

The CM Siddaramaiah-led government is all set to bring an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act, 1999. The Finance Department has already prepared the blueprint and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil has also agreed to the amendment, the sources said.

However, slamming the state government, the BJP had stated that the move was against the spirit of the Constitution and nothing but the “peak of appeasement politics”.

State BJP President, B.Y. Vijayendra, claimed that the Congress was leading the state towards strife.

Vijayendra said the state government has not released any funds for legislators and when no tender has been called and work allotted, what’s the use of reservation?

Hitting out at the Congress, Vijayendra said: “Does the grand old party think that only Muslims constitute the minority group?”

“I urge CM Siddaramaiah, if he is real Ahinda (a Kannada acronym for Alpasankhyataru or minorities, Hindulidavaru or backward classes, and Dalitaru or Dalits) leader, he should have enabled marginalised communities and strengthened them economically,” the BJP leader said.

“Madivala, Savita and many communities also exist and need support from the state. The government is not bringing these communities into the mainstream. Instead, the government is all set for Muslim appeasement, the people will have to teach them a lesson,” he stated.

“Muslims alone have been granted reservations in education and employment based on religion, which goes against the constitutional spirit. Now, the government is planning to introduce a 4 per cent reservation for Muslims even in government contracts, which is the peak of appeasement politics,” Vijayendra charged.

“If it was for all minority communities, we have no objections,” he said.

Hyderabad: AIMIM chief Assadudin Owaisi on Friday criticized calls for Muslims to stay indoors or cover themselves during Holi, asserting the community’s strength by saying, “We will not run, we are not cowards.”

“Some say if you’re so scared, you should not offer namaz and stay indoors. They say just like we have covered our mosques, we must cover ourselves also, or else stay indoors,” Owaisi said while addressing a gathering at Chowk-e-Masjid in Telangana’s Hyderabad.

His remarks were in response to statements by some officials advising Muslims to remain indoors if they did not want to be colored during Holi.

In Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal, Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary had on March 6 suggested that those uncomfortable with colours should stay inside, a comment later backed by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Several mosques in Uttar Pradesh were covered with tarpaulin on orders from the local administration to prevent any untoward incidents during Holi celebrations.

“Those who migrated to Pakistan were cowards. We will not run, we are not cowards. A Chief Minister said Jumma namaz can be offered at home as well… Who is he to tell us what we can and cannot do?” Owaisi added.

This year, Holi coincided with the second Jumma namaz (Friday prayers) of Ramzan on March 14. Security forces conducted flag marches and set up checkpoints to ensure peaceful celebrations across several states.

In UP’s Sambhal, Holi festivities and prayers were observed peacefully under tight security. Sambhal Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Vandana Mishra praised the cooperation among communities, saying that peaceful celebrations “sent a strong message of harmony.”

District Magistrate Rajendra Pensia also spoke about the cooperation of people in Sambhal, which was affected by violence in November last year.

“All are happy, and they are playing Holi by applying colours to one another. We are getting cooperation from everyone,” the District Magistrate said.

Circle Officer Anuj Chowdhary led a flag march along with other police personnel to ensure the law and order situation in the district.

Circle officer Chaudhary said the police monitored the situation through foot patrolling and drone surveillance.”We are conducting foot-patrolling and drone surveillance”, he told ANI on Friday.

Other than police, paramilitary forces also conducted a flag march in Sambhal, whereas the administration used drones to monitor the situation in the district properly. Earlier, Sambhal MP Zia ur Rehman Barq urged people of all communities to maintain peace and harmony ahead of the Jumma and Holi celebrations.

Gadag (Karnataka), March 14: At least seven school girls had to be hospitalised after a gang of miscreants threw chemical colour on them while celebrating Holi in Lakshmeshwar town of Gadag district of Karnataka on Friday.

According to preliminary information, four of the seven school girls are in critical condition. They are complaining of breathing problems and chest pain. They have been shifted to Gadag Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), while the remaining girls are being treated at the local government hospital in Lakshmeshwar.

The incident has sparked outrage among the people and the parents of the victims have rushed to the hospital. Considering the seriousness of the matter, the police have started searching for the gang of miscreants.

According to the police, the school girls were waiting for the bus to go to school to take the exam at the bus stand near Suvarnagiri Tanda in Lakshmeshwar town.

Sources said a gang of miscreants came on bikes, stopped near the bus stand and started throwing colours on them. Meanwhile, the school bus arrived and the girls boarded it. The miscreants followed the bus on bikes and entered the bus and specifically targeted seven schoolgirls and poured chemical colours on them.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the chemical colours thrown by the miscreants contained cow dung, eggs, phenol and colour mixed together. The girls unknowingly swallowed some amount of the mixture, causing them to experience breathing problems and other symptoms.

The students fell sick and were immediately rushed to a hospital for treatment.

The scenes at the hospital were heartbreaking, with the girls suffering from breathing problems and severe chest pain. Senior police officials rushed to the hospital and assured the parents that strict action would be taken against the culprits.

The accused managed to escape on bikes and the police are gathering information from locals and other passengers on the school bus to nab them. More details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses. The authorities are yet to issue any official statement on the matter.