Diversion of SC/ST funds for Congress' Karnataka pledges 'injustice': BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP continued to mount pressure on Karnataka govt over the alleged diversion of SC/ST funds for 'five guarantees' Congress had promised in the run-up to the 2023 assembly polls. BJP on Monday dubbed this as a "startling reality" of the state economy and an "injustice" being meted out to Dalit and tribal communities.
"Congress robbing the underprivileged from Dalit and tribal communities for their unrealistic political agenda is leading to a toll on the state economy and welfare of the weaker sections.[This is] A startling reality about the state of Karnataka economy," said BJP's chief spokesperson and Lok Sabha MP from Garhwal, Anil Baluni.
Determined to roll out the guarantees especially with LS polls less than a year away, but facing a funds crunch, Karnataka govt is said to have diverted some Rs 11,000 crore of the Rs 34,294 crore SCSP and TSP kitty to the guarantee schemes including Gruha Jyothi, Shakthi, Anna Bhagya and Gruha Lakshmi.
BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, saying, "Congress is anti-Dalit and anti-tribal."
After principal opposition BJP raised a ruckus over the issue, Congress' own allies from SC and ST communities and Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS) are allegedly irked over the govt's decision to divert SCSP and TSP funds for its guarantee schemes.
The decision to cull Rs 11,000 crore from SCSP and TSP allocations was taken on July 31 at a meeting chaired by CM Siddaramaiah and attended by social welfare minister HC Madadevappa. Govt justified the decision saying the guarantees also cover members of SC and ST communities and that it would cover the cost of the schemes for SC and ST beneficiaries.
Earlier, the Karnataka BJP unit had accused the Siddaramaiah-led Congress govt of utilising Rs 14,800-crore funds meant for the five guarantees.