‘Rs 39,000 crore meant for Dalits used for guarantees’: K’taka BJP demands Minister’s resignation

December 19, 2025

Belagavi: The Karnataka BJP on Friday accused the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of spending ₹39,000 crore meant for Dalit welfare on government guarantee schemes and demanded the immediate resignation of Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa.

Addressing a press conference, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, alleged that funds allocated under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) were misused, depriving Dalit communities of their dues.

‘Minister betrayed the Dalit community’: BJP

Narayanaswamy alleged that Minister Mahadevappa, instead of working for the upliftment of the Dalit community, had betrayed them. Calling the minister “anti-Dalit,” he said that instead of working for Dalit welfare, he is preoccupied with appeasing political masters, indulging in corruption, and benefiting his family.

He also said that the minister’s tenure is an insult to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Narayanaswamy said that if Ambedkar were alive today, he would have exposed the true nature of such leaders. He alleged massive irregularities in the SCP and TSP funds, saying the government is deceiving Dalits.

Allegations of SCP-TSP Fund Diversion

The BJP leader said that the government claims to have allocated ₹42,000 crore for Scheduled Castes under the SCP and TSP this year, but in the last three years, approximately ₹39,000 crore has been spent on guarantee schemes.

He said, “This money is specifically meant for Dalit welfare. It should have been used for house construction, vehicles for self-employment of youth, loan assistance for businesses, implementation of Ganga Kalyana schemes, and development of infrastructure like roads in Dalit settlements.”

Instead, he alleged that the government distributed this money among guarantee schemes applicable to all and committed a grave injustice against Dalits by showing SCP-TSP funds as guarantee funds.

‘Dalits cheated, voices suppressed’: BJP’s allegation

Narayanaswamy questioned whether depriving Dalits of their rightful share from the government treasury was not fraudulent. He said that the Dalit community has not yet fully understood the gravity of this injustice. He also alleged discrimination in internal reservation and said that a bill will be introduced on this issue.

He also alleged that some Dalit organizations have been silenced through compromises and that the Congress party is preventing them from protesting by offering inducements.

Legislative Council members Hemlata Nayak and S. Keshav Prasad were also present at the press conference.