Amit Shah begins campaign in Karnataka, questions Cong over reservation to muslims

Bengaluru: Senior BJP leader and Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday began campaigning in Karnataka from Gundlupet in Chamarajanagar district, and questioned the Congress Party over its decision to bring back reservations for Muslims that had been withdrawn by the BJP government in the state.

In a roadshow as part of his campaign in Gundlupet, Mr Shah told the gathering that the BJP government had ended the four per cent reservation for Muslims given in Karnataka but the Congress Party was keen to bring back reservations for Muslims in the state. Mr Shah asked the people: “Do you wish to have reservations for Muslims?”

Mr Shah stated that reservations for the politically-dominant Vokkaligas and Lingayats has been hiked in the state along with the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). Recalling a statement by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief D.K. Shivakumar on reintroducing reservations for Muslims in Karnataka if the party is voted to power in the state, Mr Shah asked Mr Shivakumar: “Would you reduce reservations for Vokkaligas or Lingayats or the SC/STs?” and wanted Mr Shivakumar to come out with an answer over providing reservations for Muslims in Karnataka again.

In Gundlupet, Mr Amit Shah received a rousing welcome by BJP workers and was taken in a procession along with Gundlupet BJP candidate Niranjan Kumar. Party workers waved party flags and Mr Shah was cheered by the crowd with thunderous applause and whistle-blowing.

Mr Shah exuded confidence that the BJP would win the polls in Karnataka and retain power with an absolute majority. Earlier, Mr Shah reached Mysuru and prayed at the Chamundeshwari Temple atop Chamundi Hills in Mysuru before he left for Gundlupet for campaigning.