The Congress government in Karnataka, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has sanctioned an enormous grant of ₹398 crore for the development of Muslim colonies within the state. The decision was finalized during a cabinet meeting chaired by Siddaramaiah at Vidhan Soudha, where ministers collectively approved the allocation.

According to the government’s plan, these funds will be used to improve what it calls “backwards colonies” situated in urban areas. These colonies, spread across 22 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, are expected to be transformed into so-called “model colonies.” The announcement has triggered strong debates, as many critics argue that such a large allocation is less about genuine development and more about an attempt to consolidate the Muslim vote bank ahead of elections.

This development also comes in the backdrop of other controversial decisions taken by the Siddaramaiah government in recent months. For instance, the state government withdrew criminal cases filed against Muslim extremists who were accused of being involved in the 2019 Chittapur stone-pelting incident, in which Hindu activists were targeted. The withdrawal of these cases raised concerns about the government showing undue leniency towards extremist elements.

In April this year, Siddaramaiah defended the government’s decision to provide 4% reservation for Muslims in public contracts under the OBC quota. He justified this move by linking it to constitutional values and the vision of B.R. Ambedkar. As the Chief Minister asserted in his defence, “Standing in support of those who have been deprived of opportunities, those who have not got justice, is the teaching of our Constitution and B.R. Ambedkar.” This statement was intended to portray the allocation as a matter of social justice, although political observers believe it is yet another step in what they describe as appeasement politics.

Karnataka Government’s 2025 Budget Highlights Extensive Minority Favouritism and Allocations to Muslim Institutions

When the 2025 state budget was presented in March this year, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s speech made it clear that minority communities, particularly Muslims, were the central focus of several financial allocations. According to an analysis published by OpIndia, the budget contained numerous provisions that critics have labelled as “glaring instances of appeasement and preferential treatment for minorities.”

One of the most significant announcements in the budget was the allocation of ₹500 crores to set up 250 ‘Moulana Azad Model English Medium Schools’, which would operate on the Karnataka public school model. These schools are planned to run classes starting from pre-primary all the way up to the Pre-University (PU) level. This was followed by a separate allocation of ₹400 crores to strengthen 100 Urdu medium schools across the state. While the government presented this as an effort to enhance minority education, many noted the irony of simultaneously encouraging linguistic divides such as Hindi versus Kannada, even as Urdu schools received generous funding.

The budget also earmarked ₹150 crore for the repair and renovation of Waqf properties, highlighting the government’s emphasis on community-linked religious and cultural institutions. Even more striking was the allocation of a massive ₹1000 crore under the Chief Minister’s Minority Colony Development Programme, which is aimed at improving infrastructure in colonies where Muslims form a majority.

The Chief Minister devoted attention to the development of Hajj Bhavan, announcing the construction of a new building for Hajj pilgrims and the establishment of a Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) centre specifically designed to support “deprived” Muslim students. In addition, Siddaramaiah declared that couples from economically backward Muslim communities would receive ₹50,000 as financial support.

The honorarium for religious functionaries was also revised upward. Muezzins were promised ₹5000 per month, while Pesh-Imams of mosques would be granted ₹6000 per month. These announcements reinforced the government’s emphasis on supporting Islamic institutions.

Muslim students were another focus of the budget. The government pledged to construct colleges for Muslim women on lands belonging to Waqf institutions, alongside plans for new infrastructure for cultural and social activities within minority communities. Further, the budget included reimbursement of 50% of tuition fees for Muslim students, while the foreign scholarship amount was raised from ₹20 lakhs to ₹30 lakhs.

Through his detailed budget speech, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah projected these provisions as a way of uplifting disadvantaged sections. However, the scale of allocations, ranging from education and scholarships to religious infrastructure and direct financial aid, has been widely interpreted as a deliberate attempt to secure the loyalty of the Muslim community. Critics argue that the government’s priorities have leaned heavily towards freebies, preferential treatment, the development of Hajj Bhavan, renovation of Waqf properties, and the strengthening of Urdu schools, rather than adopting a balanced approach for all communities in Karnataka.