In a scathing attack, Karnataka’s BJP has called out the Congress government for allegedly looting SC/ST welfare funds and demanded answers from Rahul Gandhi. The accusation centers on the diversion of SCSP and TSP allocations to bankroll the state’s guarantee schemes, sparking outrage across party lines.
Leader of Opposition R Ashok detailed the scale of the alleged misappropriation during a fiery assembly speech. He revealed that ₹42,018 crore set aside for Scheduled Castes and Tribes saw ₹35,000 crore funneled elsewhere, crippling essential programs and leaving a mere ₹7,000 crore for core welfare efforts.
This systematic shift, Ashok argued, represents a ‘year-on-year planned robbery’ of Dalit and tribal resources. Nearly ₹39,000 crore meant for critical sectors like education and healthcare has been squandered, he claimed, to prop up the government’s populist promises amid fiscal strains.
Ashok reserved sharp criticism for Rahul Gandhi, contrasting his national rhetoric on proportional justice with the silence over Karnataka’s developments. ‘Is this Congress’s idea of social justice?’ he probed, highlighting how freebie-driven policies are undermining constitutional safeguards for vulnerable groups.
The BJP leader issued a stern warning: more than 70 groups are mobilizing for street protests. He pressed CM Siddaramaiah for a public commitment in the next budget to ring-fence SCSP/TSP funds, preventing future encroachments.
This escalating row could reshape Karnataka’s opposition narrative, amplifying BJP’s focus on welfare accountability as elections loom on the horizon.