Based on the percentage in the census, Muslims should receive at least ₹60,000 crore

Congress Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan’s statement on Karnataka state budget.
Muslims have been given a grant of Rs 4,700 crore

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (left), Congress minister Zameer Ahmed Khan (right)

Bengaluru (Karnataka) – Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recently presented the budget for the financial year 2025-26, allocating a total of ₹4,700 crore for Muslims. This includes funds for increasing the honorarium of imams in mosques and renovating waqf institutions. The BJP criticized the allocation, calling it a “Muslim budget.”

Responding to the criticism, Congress minister Zameer Ahmed Khan defended the allocation. He questioned how it could be labelled a “Muslim budget” when Muslims make up 14% of the state’s population. “If we go by the population ratio, the Muslim community should have received at least ₹60,000 crore, but only ₹4,700 crore has been allocated. Don’t the BJP leaders even have that much practical knowledge?” Khan further stated that the budget places the highest emphasis on the education sector.

Editorial Perspectives

In a secular country, there is no need to allocate even a single penny to Muslims solely on the basis of their religion. Budget funds should be allocated for various schemes without considering religion as a criterion. Those demanding funds based on population should be sent to Pakistan, which was created on the basis of religious demographics !