Bangalore: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday criticized the Karnataka state government's controversial jobs reservation bill, labeling the proposed policy as "unconstitutional" and "unwise." Responding to reporters' questions, Tharoor expressed his doubts about the rationale behind the bill. “I don't know what Karnataka thought of it, on what basis?” he said.
Tharoor, a former Union minister and current Lok Sabha member representing Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, warned that if such a law were implemented, it could drive businesses to neighboring states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala. “That (the bill) was not a wise decision. If every state brings such a law, it would be unconstitutional. The Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to live, work, and travel freely in any part of the country,” he added.
He also reminded Karnataka of a similar situation in Haryana, where the Punjab and Haryana High Court struck down a comparable bill introduced by the BJP-JJP government. On Tuesday, the cabinet led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah cleared the "Karnataka State Employment of Local Candidates in Industries, Factories, and Other Establishments Bill, 2024." According to the policy, private firms in Karnataka would be required to employ Kannadigas for 50% of all management jobs and reserve 70% of non-management jobs for locals.
Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka, is a hub for numerous start-ups and tech companies. The proposed legislation faced significant opposition from industry bodies and business leaders who echoed Tharoor’s concerns, calling the bill "unconstitutional" and warning of potential company exits from the state. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that a "comprehensive discussion" will be held in the next cabinet meeting to reach a "final decision" on the legislation.
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