BENGALURU 23 MARCH

JD(S) has decided not to support its alliance partner, BJP, in the latter’s protest against the four per cent reservation for Muslims in government tenders.

The decision was taken at a JD(S) meeting held in Bengaluru on Saturday, where party leaders directed their legislators to refrain from participating in the BJP’s agitation. The party leadership has also instructed its floor leader in the Legislative Assembly Suresh Babu to convey this stance clearly when questioned by the media.

Sources within the JD(S) confirmed the development and stated, "We will not compromise on our party’s ideology and principles. We stand with BJP on issues such as price hikes, unfulfilled guarantees, maladministration, and corruption. However, former Prime Minister and JD(S) Supremo HD Deve Gowda had introduced the four per cent reservation for Muslims, and we cannot support the BJP’s protest against it."

Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka responded to JD(S)’ stance, saying that BJP would attempt to convince its ally. "They should join the protest," Ashoka remarked.

Meanwhile, BJP State President BY Vijayendra announced on Saturday that the party would launch a statewide public awareness campaign to educate Hindus on what he termed as "injustice meted out to them by the Congress."

"Muslim reservation is unconstitutional. We will take this fight against the Congress to its logical conclusion," Vijayendra said.

Reacting to the suspension of 18 BJP MLAs from the Legislative Assembly for six months, Ashoka criticised the move, stating that a party delegation would meet the Speaker to seek a reversal of the suspension.

"Are our MLAs terrorists? During a debate, instead of supporting us, the Speaker chose to suspend our lawmakers. We will appeal to him to reconsider the decision," Ashoka added.