Bengaluru erupted in political heat on Wednesday as Karnataka BJP leveled explosive charges against the ruling Congress government. Leader of Opposition R Ashok accused the state administration of systematically siphoning off funds earmarked for Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) to fuel its ambitious guarantee schemes.
Ashok painted a grim picture, claiming that over three consecutive budgets, the government diverted massive sums intended for Dalit and Adivasi welfare. Out of ₹42,018 crore officially allocated under SCSP and TSP, nearly ₹35,000 crore was redirected, leaving just ₹7,000 crore for targeted development initiatives. This, he alleged, amounts to a calculated ‘annual plunder’ of resources meant for the most marginalized communities.
The BJP leader didn’t mince words, branding the move as a blatant misuse of nearly ₹39,000 crore designated for education, health, and empowerment programs. ‘These legally mandated funds are being treated like a personal piggy bank to cover the Chief Minister’s financial mismanagement,’ Ashok thundered in the assembly.
Turning the spotlight on national Congress leadership, Ashok directly challenged Rahul Gandhi. ‘The champion of ‘justice by population’ remains silent on this historic injustice in Karnataka,’ he said, questioning if such fund diversion aligns with the party’s commitment to equality and social justice.
Ashok warned that the Congress’s ‘freebie politics’ is repeatedly targeting SC/ST allocations, mounting a direct assault on their legal rights. Over 70 organizations are gearing up for protests, and he demanded ironclad assurances from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the upcoming budget to halt any further diversion.
As the controversy simmers, it underscores deepening rifts in Karnataka’s political landscape, with BJP positioning itself as the fierce guardian of marginalized rights ahead of future electoral battles.