The Karnataka government's 2025 budget has sparked a major political controversy, with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly criticizing the Congress-led administration over its allocations for minority welfare. The budget, presented by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, earmarks Rs 1,000 crore for the development of minority communities, Rs 150 crore for the protection and enhancement of Waqf properties, Rs 100 crore for the development of Urdu schools, and a Rs 6,000 monthly honorarium for Imams. Additionally, the budget reserves 4% of public works contracts for Muslims under Category-II B, a provision that has drawn sharp reactions from the BJP and other right-wing groups.
BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya took to social media to attack the Congress, alleging that the party was prioritizing Muslims over other communities in resource distribution. He cited a controversial statement made by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on December 9, 2006, where Singh said that minorities, particularly Muslims, should have the "first claim on resources." Malviya claimed that Siddaramaiah's budget was a direct reflection of this sentiment and accused the Congress of adopting a policy of appeasement. He further alleged that the Congress was deliberately sidelining Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), who he claimed had received little to no comparable benefits. Malviya called the budgetary provisions "unconstitutional," stating that reservations based on religion are not allowed under Indian law.
The BJP’s official social media handles amplified these allegations, branding the Karnataka budget as a "Halal Budget" and accusing the Congress government of institutionalizing religious favoritism. The party highlighted various allocations that, according to them, cater exclusively to Muslims. These include Rs 50,000 in financial assistance for Muslim marriages, Rs 150 crore for infrastructure development of Waqf properties and graveyards, Rs 50 lakh for Muslim cultural programs, and the establishment of a new ITI college in predominantly Muslim areas. The BJP further pointed out that Muslim students will receive a 50% fee concession under the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), a new residential pre-university (PU) college will be set up for Muslim girls in Ullal town, and the Bengaluru Haj Bhavan will be expanded. Additionally, the government has allocated funds for self-defense training programs aimed specifically at Muslim girl students. The BJP questioned why similar benefits were not extended to SCs, STs, and OBCs, arguing that the Congress was engaging in "divisive politics."
BJP MP PC Mohan also joined the attack, criticizing the budget for what he claimed was blatant discrimination against Hindus. In a social media post, he contrasted the budgetary allocations for Muslims with an image of a coconut shell, implying that Hindus had been left empty-handed. Mohan accused the Congress of using state resources to strengthen its vote bank while ignoring the welfare of the majority community.
Defending the budget, Karnataka Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan dismissed the BJP’s accusations as baseless and misleading. He argued that the allocations made for minority communities were well within reasonable limits and proportionate to their population share. According to Khan, Muslims constitute about 14% of Karnataka’s population, and based on this percentage, they should ideally receive budgetary allocations amounting to Rs 60,000 crore. However, he pointed out that the government had allocated only Rs 4,700 crore for Muslim welfare, a fraction of what would be proportionate. Khan accused the BJP of distorting facts and spreading communal narratives to polarize voters. He also highlighted that significant funds had been allocated for education, scholarships, and employment generation for all underprivileged communities, including SCs, STs, and OBCs.
The controversy surrounding Karnataka’s budget is unfolding at a time when concerns over communal tensions in India are on the rise. A recent report by the India Hate Lab, a Washington-based research group, documented a staggering 74% increase in anti-minority hate speech incidents in 2024 compared to the previous year. The report noted that a majority of these hate speech incidents took place during political rallies, religious processions, and protests, particularly in states governed by the BJP and its allies. It further stated that 80% of these incidents were recorded in states under BJP rule. (Reuters Report)
The BJP’s criticism of Karnataka’s budget reflects a broader national debate about the role of religion in public policy and governance. With crucial elections approaching, political parties are actively shaping their narratives around issues of minority rights, resource allocation, and social justice. The Congress, for its part, has maintained that the budget aims to uplift all marginalized communities and is in line with constitutional principles of equity and justice. However, with the BJP and its supporters continuing to push the "Muslim appeasement" narrative, the political battle over Karnataka’s budget is likely to intensify in the coming days.
