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.

Ashok’s allegations stem from a comprehensive report by KSIC’s managing director, which details the necessity of the five-acre land for key upgrades: boosting production and installing an ETP. Despite expert warnings in the internal technical assessment, the government presses ahead, ignoring operational imperatives.

This profitable PSU, brimming with market demand, faces inexplicable sabotage, Ashok fumed. What benefits accrue to private interests, he probed. The unit’s daily water needs for reeling—half a million liters—could be hamstrung by construction interference with pipelines, leading to output halts.

The human cost is staggering: livelihoods of hundreds of laborers and thousands of sericulture farmers hang in the balance. Compliance with factory rules requires 30% green cover; tampering invites regulatory wrath and closures. Hailing Mysore Silk as a GI-tagged heirloom from royal times, renowned globally for purity, Ashok lambasted the shortsighted policy.

He implored the government to prioritize strengthening and innovating KSIC over destructive diversions. The matter has been flagged to national leaders including PMO, Giriraj Singh, and Piyush Goyal for urgent action to protect this economic pillar.

Ashok painted a picture of fiscal chaos under CM Siddaramaiah. “Since Congress assumed office, not a single department has seen adequate allocations,” he thundered. Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy stood accused of stalling workers’ rightful claims.

For 38 months, RTC staff have awaited back wages, now resorting to strikes. “Treasury’s run dry,” Ashok stated bluntly. “Legitimate dues overdue—this is sheer failure. If money existed, pay in phases or fully.”

He revealed government foot-dragging: protests prompted partial offers of 26 months’ pay, swiftly dismissed by employees. Replying to Reddy’s barbs about BJP-era dues, Ashok issued a bold challenge: publish 2018 liabilities and his 2009-2013 record.

Ashok didn’t stop at transport. He claimed the profitable RTC now bleeds losses under Congress, dismissing COVID excuses as outdated. The malaise spreads—contractors threaten strikes over unpaid bills, excise groups plot demos.

“Three years of blunders will cost them dearly,” Ashok cautioned. His call for swift resolution underscores deepening governance rifts in Karnataka, with public anger simmering over service breakdowns and financial woes.

Ashok’s Saturday statement pulls no punches, holding Congress accountable for the disparities given their prolonged rule and Siddaramaiah’s multiple budget presentations. He called for ample, segregated funding to undo years of oversight, rejecting any merger of existing departmental grants into this category.

Explicitly, he ruled out counting routine disbursements to development boards or corporations toward the regional redressal kitty. ‘A fresh, dedicated allocation is non-negotiable,’ Ashok declared, amid accusations that backward taluks have surged from 65% to 72.8% despite earlier committee identifications by Prof. D.M. Nanjundappa.

Dismissing Congress’s rhetoric on underdeveloped regions as insincere, Ashok challenged the ruling party to lead by example with unprecedented budgetary commitments. Even as the government touts Karnataka’s high NS DP ranking, he insisted on addressing imbalance fundamentals.

To ensure efficacy, Ashok recommended a dedicated monitoring unit for the 11 recommendations, tracking funds from allocation to outcome with rigid timelines. He advocated penalties for fund misuse and shifts in board operations toward expert-led, needs-based projects over political favoritism.

Echoing the committee’s core advice, Ashok reiterated the dual-track funding model: regular budgets plus special grants proportioned by backwardness levels. This comprehensive approach, he argued, would finally deliver equitable growth to all corners of Karnataka, fostering a more balanced developmental narrative.