‘Halal Budget’: Karnataka CM Announces Booster Plan For Minorities, Opposition Calls It ‘Appeasement’

Last Updated:March 07, 2025, 14:49 IST

The Karnataka budget put the total expenditure at Rs 4,09,549 crore, comprising Rs 3,11,739 crore for revenue expenditure, Rs 71,336 crore for capital expenditure, and Rs 26,474 crore for loan repayment

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah presented the budget on Friday. (X)

While Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday presented his 16th budget, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called the boost for minorities “appeasement".

The budget put the total expenditure at Rs 4,09,549 crore, comprising Rs 3,11,739 crore for revenue expenditure, Rs 71,336 crore for capital expenditure, and Rs 26,474 crore for loan repayment. The fiscal deficit is projected at ₹90,428 crore (2.95% of GSDP), while the revenue deficit is pegged at ₹19,262 crore (0.63% of GSDP).

In a post on ‘X’, the chief minister said, “Today, I am ready to present the 16th budget of my political career. I am grateful to all the people of Karnataka for giving me the opportunity to present the budget of this state sixteen times…Believing in the aspirations of Buddha, Basava, Gandhi and Ambedkar, and acting accordingly, we have made an effort to take a further step towards realising the dream of an equal society through this budget."

Siddaramaiah said there is no doubt that this budget will be a beacon for the comprehensive development of the state for the next one year.

THE BOOST FOR MINORITIES

The CM’s Minority Colony Development Programme was announced with an outlay for Rs 1,000 crore.Rs 150 crore for protection of Muslim burial grounds and Waqf properties (Rs 100 crore was given last year).Rs 50,000 for NGOs carrying out minority community mass marriages.Self-defence training for girl studying in schools and colleges run by directorate of minoritiesRs 100 crore for Jain, Buddhist and Sikh communities.Rs 250 crore for Christian community.Honorarium given to Jain priests, chief granthis of Sikhs and Pesh imams enhanced to Rs 6,000 per month.Multi-purpose hall for minority community at cost of Rs 50 lakh across state at taluk level.50% fee reimbursement for admission availed through Karnataka Examination Authority in professional courses, Rs 5 lakh cap.Foreign student scholarship enhanced from Rs 20 Lakh to Rs 30 lakh.

‘APPEASEMENT’ ATTACK

The Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) posted on X: “The corrupt and the corrupt started appeasement even before presenting the bogus budget!!"

Another post called it a “halal budget", which had nothing for “SCs, STs, and OBCs".

BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya said on X: “On December 9, 2006, Dr. Manmohan Singh, then Congress Prime Minister, said, “We will have to devise innovative plans to ensure that minorities, particularly the Muslim minority, are empowered to share equitably in the fruits of development. They must have the first claim on resources." It was a premeditated statement because, on April 14, 2009, in the run-up to the Lok Sabha election, Dr. Manmohan Singh, when asked about it, reiterated his stance, stating that minorities, especially poor Muslims, should get priority when it comes to the nation’s resources. He categorically affirmed that he stood by his earlier assertion that Muslims should have the first right to resources. Today, while presenting the Karnataka government budget, CM Siddaramaiah confirmed that 4% of public works contracts will be reserved for Muslims under CATEGORY-II B. Reservation will be provided in the procurement of goods and services under various government departments, corporations, and institutions for suppliers belonging to SC, ST, Category-I, Category-II A, and Category-II B, up to ₹1 crore." Category-II B refers to Muslims. The Congress is hell-bent on undermining the rights of SCs, STs, and OBCs, as enshrined in Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s Constitution. No reservation can be provided on the basis of religion. India will not let the Congress succeed with their sinister plans."

Location : First Published:

News politics ‘Halal Budget’: Karnataka CM Announces Booster Plan For Minorities, Opposition Calls It ‘Appeasement’