Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's criticism of the 4% reservation for Muslims in the backward classes category in Karnataka. In a tweet, Siddaramaiah defended the longstanding inclusion of Muslims in the 2B category, citing reports from Backward Classes Commissions dating back to 1974.

Siddaramaiah highlighted that the reservation has been in place for three decades and was not challenged by previous BJP governments in the state or the Narendra Modi-led Union Government. He also mentioned the Supreme Court's stay on a previous BJP government's decision to revoke the 4% quota, emphasizing that important details seemed to elude the Prime Minister.

The CM questioned Modi's allegations, demanding evidence or an apology. He challenged claims that Congress intended to reallocate reservations from backward classes and SC/STs to Muslims, asking for any official government documents supporting such assertions.

Siddaramaiah also called out JD(S) leader HD Deve Gowda to clarify his stance on Muslim reservations, and he questioned Modi about the status of increasing SC/ST reservations, a decision initiated by the previous BJP government.