Bengaluru: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy on Friday slammed the Congress government for causing “injustice” to Dalits, stating that it had “gobbled” the funds allotted to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
“Food and Civil Supplies Minister Muniyappa says they brought the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan/Tribal Sub-Plan Act (SCSP/TSP Act). They brought it and gobbled it too. Problems of Dalits have increased. Though there are seven boards, not even a pittance has been released. Dalit workers are not getting jobs,” he told reporters.
The SCSP/TSP Act, introduced during Siddaramaiah’s first term as chief minister, provides 24% of budgetary allocation to SC/STs as per their population.
Recently, Muniyappa had said that the SCSP/TSP funds (A budgetary allocation of Rs 42,018 crore for 2025-26 for SC/STs) should be used to
ensure that fundamental facilities such as land and quality education are given to Dalits.
Reacting to this, Narayanaswamy, one of the Dalit leaders in the BJP, said: “There are reports that due to a Cabinet reshuffle, some ministers may not be continued. Against that backdrop, Muniyappa has made this comment just for the sake of it.”
‘Justice not done to communities’
BJP state general secretary P Rajeev, another Dalit leader, agreed with Muniyappa.
“How much land has been given (to Dalits)? Their achievement is zero. They show Rs 40,000 crore but not even Rs 40 work has directly reached SC/STs. They have misused the SCSP/TSP funds, diverted it, and are tarnishing the names of SC/STs. Though they are showing higher grants, they have not given justice to these communities.”