Bengaluru: Presenting the state budget for 2025, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday announced a 4% reservation for Muslims in government tenders and contracts, aiming to promote economic inclusion and ensure equitable business opportunities for minorities.
The budget also earmarked Rs 40,000 crore for major tunnel road projects to tackle Bengaluru’s traffic congestion.
However, the announcement has sparked a political storm, with the opposition BJP strongly opposing the move, branding it “unconstitutional” and an act of “blatant appeasement.” The BJP has vowed to challenge the decision legally, asserting that government contracts should be awarded based on merit rather than religious considerations. Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai accused the Congress government of “dividing society for political gains” and warned of strong resistance both in and outside the legislature.
Beyond the controversy surrounding the reservation policy, budget also includes Rs 250 crore for Christian community development and Rs 150 crore for the upkeep of Waqf properties and Muslim graveyards. Minority students studying abroad will see an increase in state support from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 30 lakh, while 25,000 students in 169 minority hostels will receive self-defense training. New Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) will also be set up in minority-dominated areas.
The budget also includes significant investments in infrastructure and welfare schemes. In a bid to address Bengaluru’s persistent traffic congestion, the government has proposed two major tunnel road projects—an 18.5 km North-South tunnel from Hebbal Esteem Mall to Silk Board Junction at Rs 15,000 crore and a 28.5 km tunnel from KR Puram to Nayandanahalli, costing Rs 28,000 crore. Additionally, the Bengaluru Metro network will be expanded to 98.60 km in the next two years, enhancing connectivity to Devanahalli.
Tourism development is another key focus, with Rs 50 crore allocated to improve destinations across ten districts. The government has emphasised coastal tourism, pledging to enhance beach infrastructure in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada while improving road connectivity in these regions. Heritage sites such as Belur, Halebidu, and Somnathpur will also see upgrades, and efforts will be made to secure World Heritage Site status for Lakkundi temples.
In the education sector, the government plans to upgrade 50 high schools and establish 500 new government schools. Agricultural education will be strengthened with the opening of a new agricultural college in Athani. Healthcare has also received a boost, with a multispeciality hospital planned for Koppal and a nephrology hospital under the Kidwai Institute set to be established in Raichur. Additionally, Rs 300 crore has been allocated to reduce child and maternal mortality.
In a significant move, Bengaluru University has been renamed Dr Manmohan Singh Bengaluru University in honour of the former Prime Minister and economist. Furthermore, a new Buddhist School of Studies will be set up in Bengaluru, reflecting the state’s commitment to academic diversity.
As the debate over the 4% reservation intensifies, all eyes will be on the legal and political battles that lie ahead. The Karnataka Budget 2025, while focusing on economic development, infrastructure, and social welfare, has also sparked sharp ideological divides, setting the stage for heated discussions in the coming weeks.
