Karnataka: BJP slams CM Siddaramaiah for failing to properly utilise budgetary allocations

The BJP slammed the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka for its "poor progress" in utilising the budgetary allocations for 2024-25.

"The Siddaramaiah government has spent only Rs 1.79 lakh crore out of the total budget of Rs 3.22 lakh crore till January 2025, which is only 55 per cent of the budget. Can they spend the remaining 45 per cent of the budget in the next two months," asked leader of the opposition R. Ashok, during a press meet held in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

The BJP leader mocked the slogan of the ruling Congress—"Nudidanthe nadeva sarkara" (Government that walks the talk)—and said, "Siddaramaiah claims to be a champion of the Ahinda (minorities, Dalits and backward classes) but his government has spent only Rs 13,900 core out of the allocated Rs 28,000 crore in the special component plan (SCP) and Rs 4,900 crore out of the allocated Rs 11,515 crore in the tribal sub plan (TSP), which is 49 per cent and 42 per cent respectively."

Ashok accused the Congress government of pushing the state into bankruptcy.

"The government contractors have accused the Siddaramaiah government of taking 60 per cent 'commission' (bribe) and have threatened to halt work after Sankranthi (January 14) if their pending bills worth Rs 32,000 crore are not cleared. The Congress legislators are complaining of paucity of development funds due to the burden of the guarantee schemes. The government is hoping to tide over the crisis by taxing the common man by hiking the bus fare, water tariff, liquor and milk prices," charged Ashok, adding that the Congress government which calls itself pro-poor had in fact made much lower allocations for the welfare schemes compared to the previous BJP government.

According to data cited by the BJP, the Congress government has allocated only Rs 40 crore to dig borewells under the Ganga Kalyan Yojane (for SC/ST), while the previous BJP government had allocated Rs 60 crore. Similarly, the allocations for self-employment scheme has reduced from Rs 100 crore to Rs 45 crore, and the allocation for the various caste/community-based development corporations was also reduced—Thanda (ST)-from Rs 110 crore to Rs 60 crore, Adi jambava - Rs 100 crore to Rs 50 crore, Bhovi - Rs 95 crore to Rs 55 crore, Devaraj Urs (SC) - Rs 119 crore to Rs 100 crore, Sangolli Rayanna (Kuruba) - Rs 106 crore to Rs 50 crore, Ambigara Chowdaiah- Rs 25 crore to Rs 5 crore, Uppar - Rs 15 crore to Rs 8 crore, and Veerashaiva Lingayats - Rs 100 crore to Rs 60 crore. The special grant to temples and mutts for Anna Dasoha (free meal) scheme was reduced from Rs 155 crore to Rs 30 crore. The temple development funds was reduced from Rs 275 crore to Rs 30 crore.

"Despite the fact that BJP has made higher allocations to every caste-based corporations, Siddaramaiah claims it to have tabled an inclusive and pro-poor budget," claimed Ashok.

Incidentally, the chief minister who reviewed the progress in the social welfare department took the officials to task for failing to spend the money released for the various schemes.

"The department was allocated Rs 5,377 crore in the 2024-25 budget and Rs 3,631 crore was released. But till now, only Rs 2,892 crore has been spent. Why are you holding on to the money meant for the poor and deserving beneficiaries? You have developed a disgusting habit of spending all the budget allocation in the last month of the financial year," said Siddaramaiah.

The CM directed the chief secretary to issue showcase notices to erring officials, the managing directors of the various boards and corporations under the social welfare department also suspend them if needed. He also pointed out that though Ambedkar corporation had Rs 900 crore and Bhovi corporation had Rs 107 crore available, the MDs had not bothered to disburse the funds for the schemes.

Siddaramaiah expressed his annoyance over pending student scholarships - of the Rs 164 crore released for pre-matric scholarship, only Rs 105 crore had been spent.