Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal sharply criticized the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka on Friday, alleging that it is misusing funds allocated for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) to promote its own political agenda.
He claimed that the welfare resources intended for these marginalized communities are being redirected to fulfill the Congress party's electoral promises and guarantees made during campaigns.
Meghwal sought explanation from Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi about deprivation of rights to the most disadvantaged sections of society and their betrayal occurring in Congress's governance.
The Constitution has explicitly prohibited the diversion of SC/ST funds for any other use. This is illegal and warrants action, Meghwal stated to reporters.
He quoted though Rahul Gandhi frequently puts himself forward as a champion while "the Congress-led state in Karnataka is subverting the very principles of the Constitution by manipulating funds for naked political purposes" and yet Gandhi maintained silence over this development.
"Rahul must address this misuse of authority," the Union Minister pressed for action by the Karnataka government to check such malpractices.
Meghwal claimed that Rahul Gandhi and his aides continued to carry on the falsehood for electoral support, knowing fully well that all that they promise is definitely unreal and also impossible.
He said that ₹14,730 crore out of ₹39,121 crore allocated to SCSP and TSP were diverted by the Congress government to finance the guarantees announced by Gandhi.
SCSP and TSP are the bodies that are supposed to manage and monitor the spending of SC/ST funds.
Meghwal further claimed that in theirANDROID desire to win elections, Congress and Rahul have been making unrealistic promises and issuing many guarantees to women and youth throughout the country, wearing the party-led states to flout constitutional norms.
It is considering the fact that the Congress party not only promised freebies at the national level but also prior to the Karnataka Assembly elections, now the state government is facing difficulties in implementing those, apparently due to a lack of funds.
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