Karnataka Cabinet on Friday took the decision to scrap 4 per cent reservation for Muslims under the OBC quota which will be distributed equally among the dominant Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities. Muslims, who fall under Category 2B, will be moved to the 10 per cent EWS quota pool, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced. Presently Vokkaligas have 4 per cent and Lingayats 5 per cent ubder categories 2(C) and 2(D) respectively they were earlier under categories 3A and 3B, from the freed 4 per cent Vokkaligas and lingayats will get 2 percentage points each that will increase their reservation in the OBC pool.

The government was under pressure from the Panchamasalis, a numerically- stronger sub-sect of the Lingayats and the BJP government hopes to calm the politically powerful communities that wanted a hike in their quotas. 

Bommai specified that the poor from all communities that are not SC, ST or OBC will qualify under the EWS quota, the government will soon notify about the implementation of the EWS quota, the CM said. 

Bommai stated “there is no provision under the constitution for reservation to religious minorities. It is not there in any state. In Andhra Pradesh, the court struck down reservation to religious minorities. Even BR Ambedkar said clearly that reservation is for castes.” He also said “sooner or later, someone might challenge reservation to religious minorities. So, the government has taken a proactive decision.”  He said “in the literal sense, there are economic criteria to avail OBC reservation, even for minorities. We’re moving [Muslims] from a 4 per cent pool to the 10 per cent EWS quota where the same economic criteria will continue.”

Even after the changes the Bommai government has ensured that the total OBC reservation remains at 32 per cent across 4 categories.