Karnataka okays 4% quota for Muslim contractors

The Cabinet has given its nod for amending the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act aimed at providing 4 per cent reservation in tenders to Muslim contractors, official sources said.

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The Cabinet also approved the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to provide ‘B’ khatas to all unauthorised rural properties, similar to the exercise being carried out in urban areas.

The Bill is expected to cover some 90 lakh rural properties that do not have khatas.

Unconstitutional: BJP slams move

• The BJP on Saturday slammed the Karnataka government’s decision to reserve 4 per cent of government contracts for Muslims as unconstitutional.
• BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad accused Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of seeking to lead the Congress in the competitive vote bank politics among opposition parties.
• He claimed that Gandhi is behind the Karnataka government’s quota decision.

According to the sources, the Cabinet discussed a proposal to give 4.24 acres of land belonging to the Agriculture Department in Hebbal for the International Flower Auction Bangalore (IFAB) on a rent-free basis for two years.

Discussions were also held on approving financial assistance of Rs 96.77 crore for reconstruction and replacement of equipment at Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre after the January fire incident.

The Cabinet discussed measures to reform the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) on Friday, the sources said.

It was decided to constitute an expert committee to suggest measures to revamp the KPSC and to set up a search committee to appoint KPSC members, they said.