K'taka increasing quota for minorities under housing schemes is in line with Centre's guidelines: CM
Bengaluru, Jun 20 (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said his government's decision to enhance reservation for minorities under housing schemes in the state from 10 to 15 per cent is in line with the Union government's guidelines.
He termed the BJP's criticism of it as "hypocritical and politically motivated", and asserted that his government rejects the politics of hatred and division being pushed by the opposition party.
The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday decided to enhance the reservation for minorities under various housing schemes in the state from 10 to 15 per cent, a move which the opposition BJP has slammed, calling it "unconstitutional" and "appeasement".
"The Cabinet has approved a decision to enhance the earmarking for minority beneficiaries, including Christians, Jains, Muslims, etc, under state-run housing schemes in a calibrated manner, in line with the Union Government's own guidelines," Siddaramaiah said.
In a statement, he said this is based on the Prime Minister's 15-Point Programme for the Welfare of Minorities (2019), which clearly directs all Central and State implementing agencies to earmark 15 per cent of physical and financial targets for minorities wherever possible.
"This guideline is issued by the BJP-led Union Government and has been in force for years. If this was unconstitutional or appeasement, why did the Union Government ask all states to follow it? Why is it being implemented under Central schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana?" he questioned.
Noting that the government's decision does not grant blanket enhancement of quota across the state, the CM said it only addresses a specific implementation challenge.
"In many panchayats where the minority population is less than 10 per cent, the mandated 10 per cent earmarking could not be utilised. To ensure optimal use of the allocated targets and avoid lapses, we have allowed the gap from such panchayats to be reallocated to those with a higher minority population, subject to a cap of 15 per cent," he explained.
This is an administrative adjustment within the unreserved category and does not affect SC, ST, or OBC reservations in any manner, he further said, adding that the decision is legally sound and has been cleared by the Law Department after thorough review.
Terming the BJP's reaction as "hypocritical and politically motivated", Siddaramaiah said the same party that implements the 15 per cent target at the national level is now accusing Karnataka of appeasement for merely applying the same principle to its state schemes.
If the BJP has any objection, they must first explain why their own government continues to operate under the same guidelines and why it expects other states to do the same, he said, adding that this selective outrage is nothing but an attempt to stoke communal sentiments and derail efforts meant to uplift the poorest and most marginalised families in the state.
Highlighting that over 34,000 additional minority families, most of them landless and in need of housing, will benefit from this decision in the current year alone, the CM said where no minority applicants are found in a panchayat, the unutilised share will be reallocated to where there is higher need, ensuring that not a single house remains unbuilt due to technical rigidities.
"This approach ensures equity, efficiency, and full utilisation of resources, while remaining fully compliant with constitutional provisions," he said.
The Congress government in Karnataka is committed to inclusive development. "We reject the politics of hatred and division being pushed by the BJP," Siddaramaiah said.
"Our governance model is rooted in justice, equity, and compassion, and we will continue to implement schemes that reach every poor household, irrespective of caste or religion. We urge BJP leaders to rise above narrow political calculations and support measures that truly uplift the poor instead of trying to block their path with misinformation and communal rhetoric," he added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Akash Singh says signature celebration fuels motivation, reinforces dominance
Lucknow (PTI): Pacer Akash Singh caught the eye with his unique celebration during Lucknow Super Giants' win over Chennai Super Kings, pulling out a piece of paper from his pocket after a wicket, a gesture he said was aimed at "motivating" himself and "asserting dominance" over batters.
The left-arm pacer pulled out a scrappy piece of paper after each of the three wickets he took in LSG seven-wicket win over CSK, with the message reading: "Akki on fire -- Akash knows how to take wickets in T20 cricket.
The 24-year-old, who began his IPL journey with Rajasthan Royals and was part of Chennai Super Kings’ title-winning campaign in 2023 before moving to Lucknow Super Giants, registered his best IPL figures with 3 for 26 on Friday.
"'Akki knows how to take wickets in T20 cricket', right?" Akash said when asked about the message on the piece of paper, adding that it serves as a source of motivation and helps him focus on dominating batters and delivering stronger performances for the team.
"Different things motivate different people. Some days I show the paper, some days I don't, but it reflects my mindset on that particular day. When you carry a piece of paper with something written on it, you manifest things and the most important part is when those manifestations actually materialise," he added.
Akash, who hails from Bharatpur in Rajasthan, said the strong backing from the Lucknow Super Giants support staff over the last two years had played a huge role in his growth as a cricketer.
"I've been with LSG for two years and the most important thing has been the backing from the coaches, even when I'm not in the playing XI. This year we have Bharat Arun sir, last year Zaheer sir was there...Tom Moody. The way they guide us, prepare us and keep us ready for opportunities is very important when there are 25 players in the squad," he said.
"When you are not playing, you naturally seek backing and every player wants to make the most of the opportunities he gets. The support from the captain also matters a lot and with Rishabh bhaiya backing you, the confidence grows and you are able to perform better," Akash said, referring to Rishabh Pant.
Akash said Pant had asked him to trust his strengths ahead of the clash against CSK.
"He told me that the new ball is my strength and that I can swing it both ways. So I just tried to make the best use of my skills. The wicket also had good bounce, so I focused on using the bouncer effectively,” added Akash.
On his success against CSK, Akash said his experience of playing in the IPL since 2020, including a stint with CSK, helped him understand the opposition batters better, while backing his own strengths with the ball also played a key role in his impressive spell.
"Obviously, when you play in the IPL and have shared the dressing room with some players, you understand their strengths and weaknesses. My focus was first to back my own strengths, then exploit their weaknesses and also make the best use of what the wicket was offering," Akash said.
Akash said he had sensed over the last two-three games that an opportunity could come his way after being repeatedly told to "be ready", though he admitted he was unfortunate not to get a chance earlier.
"Two days before the match, during practice, I was told to be ready," he said.
Clarifying that he had not been carrying the piece of paper in anticipation, Akash said he often notes down thoughts that could help improve his game..
"Whenever I’m alone or about to sleep, any thought that comes to my mind which can help my cricket, I write it down. The other night I got this thought and jotted it down on paper," he added.
