Bengaluru, Karnataka BJP on Friday accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah-led Congress government of diverting Rs 14,800 crore for five guarantees for the Scheduled Caste sub-plan and Tribal sub-plan.

The party said that funds meant for the welfare of Dalit communities were spent on fulfilling election promises.

In a post on 'X' (formerly Twitter), Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka alleged that the Chief Minister has "wasted" funds for SC/ST welfare in the name of funding the five guarantees.

According to Ashoka, Rs 7,881.91 crore of SCSP-TSP is for 'Grihalaxmi' scheme, Rs 70.28 crore for 'Bhagyalakshmi' scheme, Rs 2585.93 crore for 'Grihajyoti' scheme, Rs 448.15 crore for 'Annabhagya' scheme, Rs 2,187 crore Rs has been used. for Direct Benefit Transfer of 'Annabhagya' scheme, and Rs 1,451.45 crore for 'Shakti' scheme and Rs 175.50 crore for 'Yuva Nidhi' scheme.

The BJP leader alleged that the state government has already embezzled Rs 187 crore from Maharishi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation.

The Chief Minister defended the move by claiming that the SCSP-TSP funds were spent equal to the SC/ST population in the state.

“Most of the beneficiaries of these guarantees are from SC/ST communities,” the Chief Minister claimed.