Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 17 (ANI): Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Monday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party for criticising the state budget and said that whenever the BJP is losing ground and popularity, they bring out the 'Muslim angle' to sustain their livelihood.

'If this is a 'halaal' budget and Pakistan budget, then the Union Government also runs a Ministry of Minority Affairs, does that mean Union Government is building a Pakistan within India?... Whenever the BJP is losing ground and popularity, they bring out the Muslim angle to sustain their livelihood. Maharashtra has tripled the Madrassa teachers' salaries. They have given Rs 1000 crore for the Maulana Azad Development Corporation Board. Is that not appeasement?... There is a lot of infighting within the BJP, and to hide that, they are bringing out these things,' Kharge told ANI.

Earlier today, Bharatiya Janata Party Karnataka President BY Vijayendra said that the BJP will oppose Congress's Muslim 'appeasement politics.'

'BJP is not against Muslims, but we are against Congress's Muslim appeasement politics... Yesterday, I was watching Dy CM DK Shivakumar. He challenged the BJP to give plump posts to the Muslim community. He had challenged the BJP to give MLC and Rajya Sabha MPs to the Muslim community. I want to remind him that it is the BJP who appointed Dr Abdul Kalam as the President and Najma Heptulla, Justice S. Abdul Nazeer and Mohammad Arif Khan as the governors of states,' Vijayendra said addressing the reporters.

'We are very clear about the issue and we will definitely oppose Congress's Muslim appeasement politics... Where is the provision to give 4 per cent reservation in government contracts? Is this constitutional?... We are going to oppose this move,' he added.

Earlier, the Karnataka unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had strongly criticised the Karnataka government's Budget and called it 'Halal Budget' and alleged that it was for 'appeasement' of minorities.

The BJP highlighted the provisions of the Budget, which 'mainly' focus on the welfare of the minorities.

Taking to social media post on X, BJP4Karnataka wrote on March 7, 'Scam CM @siddaramaiah in Karnataka presents a Halal Budget--appeasement at its peak! Reservation for Muslims in government contracts. Rs 50,000 assistance for Muslim simple marriages. Rs150 crore for infrastructure development of Waqf properties and graveyards. Rs50 lakh for Muslim cultural programs. New ITI college to be set up in Muslim-dominated areas. 50% fee concession for Muslim students under KEA. Residential PU college for Muslim girls in Ullal town. Increase in National & Foreign Scholarships for Muslim students. Expansion of Bengaluru's Haj Bhavan with additional buildings. Self-defense training for Muslim girl students. What about SCs, STs, and OBCs? Absolutely nothing!'

The BJP's reaction comes after the state cabinet approved an amendment to the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, which aims to provide 4 per cent reservation in tenders to Minority contractors. (ANI)