BJP staging a protest in Yadgir on Monday against the State government plan to divert SCSP and TSP grants for the Congress’ guarantee schemes.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
BJP State vice-president N. Mahesh has urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to not divert funds reserved under the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) for his party (Congress)’s guarantee schemes.
Addressing presspersons in Yadgir on Monday, Mr. Mahesh said that Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa has already submitted a proposal to the Chief Minister to divert grants for the purpose.
“If the Chief Minister announced it in the Budget on Friday, the BJP will intensify protests inside and also outside the House,” Mr. Mahesh added.
The former Minister said: “We aren’t against implementing the guarantee schemes but are against diverting SCSP and TSP grants for them. If the Chief Minister wants to continue the guarantee schemes, he must earmark separate funds in the Budget.”
He added that that the legal cell of the party is planning to approach court in case of any such move by the Chief Minister.
Questioning the government’s justification for diverting thousands of crores of rupees, he sought to know from the government how many people from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities are benefiting from the guarantee schemes.
“The Planning Commission has fixed guidelines on using grants. The government should use grants reserved for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes only for their education, employment and industry development. What is happening here? Does the government think that Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are beggars? No, we aren’t. The BJP has formed 14 teams with its leaders to intensify a State-wide protest against the State government’s move,” he said.
Mr. Mahesh also accused the State government of not releasing sufficient grants for development boards.
To a question, Mr. Mahesh said that he has had a meeting with pro-Dalit organisations that have expressed positive support for the party’s stand opposing diversion of grants and prepared to organise a protest at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park if the Chief Minister fails to stop diversion of grants during budget session.
Later, Mr. Mahesh and other leaders staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office and submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister.
President of the District BJP unit Basavaraj Veebhutihalli, CMC chairperson Lalita Anpur, Devendra Nath Nad, Rachanagouda Mudnal, Mahesh Mudnal, Ameenreddy Yalagi, Parashuram Kurkundi, Devraj Naik, Hanumanth Itagi and others took part.
Published – March 03, 2025 08:03 pm IST
