BJP leader Rajkumar Patil Telkur made the allegations during a press conference in Kalaburagi on March 5, 2026. | Photo credit: File photo
BJP leader Rajkumar Patil Telkur has alleged that funds meant for the welfare of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) under the SCs-STs Component Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) have been misused by the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in Karnataka for the past three years.
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At a press conference in Kalaburagi on March 5, Mr. Patil said that a total of ₹38,859 crore allocated under SCSP and TSP grants in 2023-24 (₹11,144 crore), 2024-25 (₹14,282 crore) and ₹26,36 crore have been diverted for guarantee schemes, benefiting all communities instead of marginalized sections. “It is a clear injustice to the Dalits,” he said.
“The state government must publicly declare in the upcoming budget that SCSP-TSP funds will not be used for other schemes and ensure that they are spent exclusively on the welfare of SCs and STs. The ₹39,000 crore misused by the state government in the last three years should be returned to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe.”
“The government should allocate at least ₹1,000 crore to each district to start development work, establish basic facilities and for the welfare of Dalits. Each SC and ST society should get at least ₹1,000 crore.
“Funds for initiatives like the ‘Campaign to Protect the Constitution’ should come from the Treasury rather than SCSP-TSP funds.”
Mr. Patil also called for repeal of Section 7C, which allegedly facilitates misuse of these earmarked funds.
He alleged that the Siddaramaiah-led government is reportedly preparing to divert another ₹15,000 crore in the new budget, continuing the pattern of misallocation.
“SCSP-TSP funds belong to marginalized communities and their diversion in favor of general programs is unacceptable,” he reiterated.
Published – March 6, 2026 08:54 IST
