Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Mar 7: The Karnataka BJP has launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led state government, accusing it of diverting funds meant for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) and warning that the "curse of Dalits' tears will not spare it."
The allegations were made during a large-scale protest held at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Thursday, organized by the Committee Against the Misuse of Funds Allocated for Scheduled Castes.
Speaking at the protest, BJP state president and MLA B Y Vijayendra criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, questioning his commitment to Dalit welfare. "Where has your concern for Dalits gone? Have you forgotten them after coming to power?" he asked.
He accused Siddaramaiah of using the AHINDA (a coalition of minorities, backward classes, and Dalits) slogan to gain power but failing to uphold his promises. "Siddaramaiah is an experienced chief minister. I am not calling him incapable, but is he helpless? Or has he simply chosen to ignore Dalits?" Vijayendra said.
He further alleged that the Congress government had misused funds meant for Dalit welfare and challenged the chief minister to justify the diversion of funds. "When B S Yediyurappa was the chief minister, we did not make empty promises like you. We provided infrastructure for Dalit colonies and built concrete roads. Where is your commitment now?" he asked.
Vijayendra urged Siddaramaiah to refrain from misusing Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SEP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) funds. "If Dalits shed tears, their curse will not spare your government," he warned. He also asserted that Karnataka currently ranks 10th in Dalit welfare spending but vowed that the BJP, upon returning to power, would ensure the highest allocation in the country.
Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, also addressed the protest, stating that SEP and TSP funds were specifically allocated for education, land purchases, water supply projects, and industrial development for Dalits. He accused the Congress government of diverting these funds, calling it an act of betrayal.
"The Dalit community does not travel for free in buses or indulge in luxuries. Yet, you have taken funds meant for our welfare and used them elsewhere. Isn't this a betrayal?" he questioned.
He also criticized the government's failure to tackle unemployment among Dalits, stating that the Yuva Nidhi scheme existed only on paper and had not benefited the community.
The protest was attended by senior leaders, including Republic Party leader M Venkataswamy, former minister and BJP state vice-president N Mahesh, BJP state general secretary P Rajeev, former MLA Sampangi, community leader Hariram, Dalit leader Jagannath, and other leaders such as C N Ramu, Munikrishna, Satish, P Murthy, Muniraju, Ramesh, Mahesh, and representatives of various Dalit organizations.