The Karnataka government's recent decision to increase the housing quota for minorities from 10% to 15% has ignited a political firestorm, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) vehemently denouncing the move as "unconstitutional" and an act of minority appeasement. The state government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, defends the decision as a necessary step to address the housing needs of marginalized communities, citing the Sachar Committee Report and directions from the central government.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil stated that the decision was made after considering the number of houseless families among minorities, relevant reports, and instructions from the Union government. He clarified that the 15% quota would apply to Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, and Parsis, with no internal reservation within this quota. The government also decided to implement the reservation on a taluk-wise basis, recognizing the uneven distribution of minorities across districts. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar added that many houses constructed by the housing department in urban areas remain vacant, and members of minority communities have expressed interest in occupying them.
The BJP has reacted sharply, accusing the Congress government of engaging in "dangerous social engineering" and vote-bank politics. BJP leader Amit Malviya called the decision "blatantly illegal and unconstitutional," arguing that reservation based on religion is prohibited by the Constitution. He further alleged that the Congress is attempting to "sow the seeds of division, polarize communities, and rip apart the social fabric of Karnataka" for short-term political gain. Union Minister Pralhad Joshi echoed these sentiments, asserting that the decision would negatively impact reservations for other communities like SC, ST, and OBC. BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra likened the move to the rule of the Bahmani Sultans, accusing the government of extending religion-based reservations to various sectors, including education, employment, government tenders, and now housing.
This is not the first time the Karnataka government's reservation policies have faced opposition. Earlier this year, the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, which provided 4% reservation for Muslims in public contracts, also drew criticism from the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular), who deemed it unconstitutional and divisive.
The state government provides housing through various schemes. Some of the schemes include the Basava Housing Scheme, Vajpayee Urban Housing Scheme, and D Devaraj Urs Special Housing Scheme. The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), is a central government initiative aimed at providing affordable housing for economically disadvantaged sections of society. Under PMAY, Karnataka has constructed a significant number of homes since 2015. The Devaraj Urs Housing Scheme aims to provide affordable housing to economically weaker sections and low-income groups, particularly benefiting people from ST, SC, OBC, and other minority communities.
The increase in the housing quota for minorities in Karnataka has become a contentious issue, raising questions about the balance between social justice and constitutional principles. As the political debate intensifies, the focus remains on whether the government's decision will effectively address the housing needs of marginalized communities or further exacerbate social divisions in the state.
