Strongly rejecting the BJP’s allegations of insufficient funds to appoint boards and corporations, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described them as ‘politically motivated, false.’ BJP state chief B Y Vijayendra had earlier claimed that two of the three Congress MLAs under suspension had joined the BJP, but Siddaramaiah dismissed the claims as part of a deliberate political agenda, which is baseless.
But Vijayendra accused the Congress government of misusing funds earmarked for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs). The government cheated these communities but didn’t address their grievances, and they continue to suffer since Congress came to power, he alleged. In particular, the BJP leader, who was the Congress MP from Congress’s bastion Behror in Rajasthan, called out the ‘illegal transfer’ of ₹87 crore from the Karnataka State Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation. Vijayendra added that the money was being transferred into bank accounts and real persons just days before the Lok Sabha elections, which indicated financial irregularities.
Also, Vijayendra highlighted a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in the Karnataka High Court challenging the delay in the appointment of chairpersons for key commissions. According to the High Court, the state government has been given a notice in this matter. The Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, which should have been the voice of marginalized communities, was not been functioning since the present government had taken over, Vijayendra said, expressing his disappointment over the inactivity of the commission.
Siddharmaiah said that he had no comment beyond asking reporters whether there are ongoing intra-party discussions in Congress over whether the post of Chief Minister can be changed and that the final decision rests with the party’s high command.
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