Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament, in New Delhi.
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman raked up the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation ‘scam’ in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Replying to the debate on the Union Budget, Sitharaman asked the opposition Congress party to first question its own leaders and the Karnataka Government on how the money meant for the welfare of SC/ST communities was swindled instead of lecturing the NDA on poor welfare.
“The Karnataka Government allocated Rs 9,980 crore for welfare of SC/ST in the budget from which Rs 4,301 crore utilised for other purposes. Nobody knows where these funds have gone,” she said.
"In Karnataka, the biggest scam happened in the name of SC/STs. Money kept for welfare of STs in the Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation was diverted to private accounts of few individuals. The Chief Minister himself admitted that Rs 89 crore diverted to private accounts," she said.
When Nirmala raked up the Karnataka issue, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was also present in the House. The Finance Minister attacked Congress and said, “Your government is looting money kept for the S/ST and you are lecturing us on welfare of SC/ST.” The members of the ruling coalition shouted, ‘Shame, Shame.’
Earlier, the Congress MP and Punjab former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi alleged that the funds allocation under the Union Budget for the SC/ST welfare was reduced. Replying to this, the Minister said,” Channji should question his party leaders and Karnataka government about how SC/ST welfare money is being looted.