The Congress government of Karnataka was already facing criticism for allocation of budget of Rs 52,000 crore for its five guarantee schemes. Now it is stuck in a new controversy, in which the BJP has accused the government of appointing more than 4000 Congress workers for monitoring guarantee schemes.
The BJP says that these workers will be spent Rs 60 crore annually as salary and other allowances. However, the government has not made public the official data of this expenditure public.
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Congress workers benefit from post, salary and allowances in government panels
The Government of Karnataka has created 38 panels to monitor the implementation of guarantee schemes.
These panels will be included:
- 1 Chairman (Cabinet Minister Rank)
- 5 Vice President (Junior Minister Rank)
- 31 members
- 1 member secretary
These panels will also be provided government offices at state, district and taluk levels.
Salaries and allowances
- Chairman Monthly Salary – ₹ 40,000
- Vice Presidents – ₹ 10,000 per month
- Taluk level presidents – ₹ 25,000 per month
- Additional Payment for Meetings:
- District and BBMP level members – ₹ 1,200 per meeting
- At taluk level – ₹ 1,100 per meeting
The government presented this information in the assembly on Tuesday, after which the opposition parties strongly opposed it.
Opposition attack: ‘Congress workers benefit from government money’
Opposition parties BJP and JD (S) attacked the decision fiercely.
Leader of Opposition R. Ashok said:
“Do we not have enough to implement 224 MLAs and bureaucrats schemes? Then why is the money of the state treasury spent on the fun of Congress workers? ”
The BJP termed it as ‘misuse of taxpayers’ money and alleged that Congress workers are being given ‘government benefits’ through these posts.
DK Shivkumar’s answer: ‘Reward of hard work of Congress workers’
Reacting to the allegations of the opposition, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar defended Congress workers.
Shivkumar said:
“The party returned to power in the 2023 assembly elections due to the hard work of Congress workers. We want to honor them with these positions. “
His statement further enraged the anger of the opposition, and the BJP-JD (S) MLAs reached the House in a ruckus.
Uproar continues despite speaker’s efforts
Assembly Speaker U. T. Khadar tried to run the proceedings of the House smoothly, but the opposition continued.
Shivkumar said that he would raise the issue in the cabinet and suggested that the appointment of local MLAs as the head of the panel could be considered, while Congress will remain as members.
Will the controversy move further?
- Will the government change the structure of these panels?
- Will the opposition make it a big political issue?
- Will the allegations of giving benefits to Congress workers from government money will investigate?
