Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Karnataka government over its announcement to allocate 15% housing under various schemes to Muslims, demanding that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah release the 2019 circular he claims justifies the move.
Hubballi: Addressing the media on Sunday, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi strongly objected to the Karnataka government’s recent decision to allocate 15% of housing in government schemes to Muslims, calling it an act of appeasement politics. He challenged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to release the 2019 circular cited as justification for the allocation.
“The Chief Minister claims this decision is based on a 2019 Central Government circular. If that’s true, let him make it public. I challenge him — show the circular. There’s no such document issued by the Centre,” Joshi said.
He pointed out that the 15-Point Programme for Minorities, introduced during the UPA era in 2006, aimed to improve the welfare of socially and economically backward groups — but it did not provide for religion-based reservations, including in housing.
Joshi questioned the Congress government’s record, accusing it of consistent minority appeasement, from the Shah Bano case to questioning the existence of Lord Ram and allocating resources specifically for Muslims across multiple welfare schemes.
He further alleged that Congress has provided disproportionate benefits to Muslims — citing 4% quota in contracts, Shadi Bhagya scheme for Muslim women, ₹500 crore for Urdu schools, and ₹30 lakh scholarships for foreign studies meant only for Muslim students. He also mentioned Obavva self-defense training being limited to Muslim girls and questioned why such programs were not extended to all poor and marginalised communities regardless of religion.
“If there’s really a 2019 circular that justifies 15% reservation in housing for Muslims, the government must release it immediately. Otherwise, this is just another example of vote bank politics,” he asserted.
Joshi concluded by accusing the Congress-led government in Karnataka of misleading the public by invoking non-existent Central policies, and urged media and the public to demand transparency.
