Abhishek Singhvi justifies quota for Muslims in award of contracts in Karnataka as it seeks to address backwardness in the community
The Hindu
Abhishek Manu Singhvi justifies 4% quota for Muslims in Karnataka contracts to address community's backwardness.
Justifying the reservation extended to Muslims in Karnataka, senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Abhishek Manu Singhvi has said the 4% quota announced for Muslims in the award of contracts seeks to address the backwardness in the community.
Mr. Singhvi’s observation came in response to a query from a reporter at a press conference here on Saturday, a day after the State Cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act to introduce 4% reservation in government tenders to Muslim contractors under the 2B category of the Other Backward Classes (OBC).
“Reservation is not given to them because they are Muslims. It is being given because that section has backwardness. The quota seeks to address that backwardness,” Mr. Singhvi said.
Responding to Opposition BJP’s plans to question the quota for Muslims in the court, the Congress leader said the saffron party was welcome to move the court as it was their constitutional right. If the BJP moves the court, the State government’s decision would be legally tested, he said.
However, the Congress government in Karnataka enjoyed the administrative right to provide such a reservation to backward sections of society. He said the government was transparent about extending the reservation.
Mr. Singhvi described the dissatisfaction expressed by the governments of certain southern States over the possible decline in the number of Lok Sabha seats during the proposed delimitation exercise as a “serious issue” that begs the attention of the ruling party and government at the Centre.
He regretted that not even an attempt had been made by either the Centre, the Prime Minister or the Home Minister to involve all the stakeholders of the proposed delimitation exercise expected to be carried out on the basis of population.
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