‘No Greater Betrayal’: BJP Attacks Congress Over DK Shivakumar’s ‘Constitution Will Be Changing’ Remark

Last Updated:March 24, 2025, 08:09 IST

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, while speaking about the 4% Muslim quota, sparked a massive row with his “constitution will be changing” remark and drew criticism from BJP leaders.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, while speaking about the bill which provided a 4% quota to Muslims in public contracts in the state on News18 India Diamond States Summit 2025 on Sunday, said that the “constitution will be changing”. His remarks sparked a massive row and drew backlash from BJP leaders.

While speaking about the reservation, Shivakumar went on to say “Lot of changes are there, Constitution will be changing, there are judgements which alters the Constitution also”.

“There is a big debate going on regarding this issue. Many BJP leaders have claimed that Muslims are repairing bike punctures. It is our responsibility to uplift every section of society, allowing them to come forward and be part of the development. We have initiated something, and we know that everyone will approach the court. Many judgments have altered the Constitution over time,” Shivakumar said.

“Let us see, let us watch. Let what court comes out. We have started something, I know that everyone will go to the court. Let us wait for some good day, the day will come. Lot of changes are there, Constitution will be changing, there are judgements which alters the Constitution also,” the deputy chief minister added.

BJP Slams Shivakumar, Accuses Congress Of ‘Appeasement politics’

BJP attacked Congress leader Shivakumar over his ‘Constitution will be changing’ remark and accused Congress of always indulging in ‘appeasement politics’.

Taking to X, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya wrote, “Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar openly declares that the Congress will amend the Constitution to grant reservations to Muslims. Where is Rahul Gandhi, the self-proclaimed saviour of the Constitution now? The Congress has always prioritised appeasement over national interest—they didn’t hesitate to partition the country on religious lines, and even after that, ensured that Muslims stayed back. There could be no greater betrayal. Congress has never been fair to Hindus—and it never will be.”

Meanwhile, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla wrote on X, “Cat is out of the bag Congress ne क़बूल कर diya कि वो illegal muslim आरक्षण देने ke लिए संविधान बदलना चाहती है! (Congress has accepted that they want to change the Constitution to give illegal reservations to Muslims). DK Shivakumar admits Congress is *biggest threat to Sanvidhan Congress is *anti Reservation *anti Ambedkar *anti SC ST OBC.”

While speaking to news agency ANI on Monday, Poonawalla called Congress “anti-constitution, anti-reservation and anti-Ambedkar”.

“Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar has agreed that giving 4% reservation to Muslims in government contracts is not under the Constitution, but they will change the Constitution for it… Rahul Gandhi accuses others of changing the Constitution, but it is he who wants to change the Constitution and Babasaheb Ambedkar… and destroy the Constitution to give reservation to Muslims on the basis of religion… Now Rahul Gandhi should tell who is the real enemy of the Constitution?… Congress is the biggest threat to the Constitution of this country. Their vote bank politics and appeasement politics are the biggest threat to the Constitution,” he added.

On Friday, the Karnataka Assembly passed a bill which proposed a 4% reservation for the Muslim community in contracts awarded by the Congress-led state government.