‘Record budget but no salaries’: BJP slams Karnataka govt over police pay delay

Hubballi : The alleged delay in payment of February salaries to thousands of police personnel in Karnataka has triggered sharp political criticism, with the opposition accusing the state government of financial mismanagement and administrative failure.

State president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, B. Y. Vijayendra, launched a scathing attack on the government led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, claiming the salary delay exposes the “true financial condition” of the state despite the presentation of a record budget.

According to reports, thousands of police personnel across several districts are yet to receive their February salaries. The delay has particularly affected personnel working under the Hubballi–Dharwad Police Commissionerate as well as districts such as Ballari, Vijayanagara, Kalaburagi and Shivamogga.

Sources said that nearly 3,200 personnel under the Hubballi-Dharwad police jurisdiction alone have not yet received their pay. Salaries that are usually credited during the first week of every month have reportedly not been deposited even several days into March, causing anxiety among police families.

The delay has created financial hardship for many personnel who depend entirely on their monthly salaries to manage expenses such as house rent, loan instalments, school fees for children and other household commitments. Several police personnel are said to be struggling to meet their financial obligations due to the unexpected delay.

Reacting strongly to the issue, B. Y. Vijayendra criticised the government for presenting what he described as an unrealistic financial picture in the state budget while allegedly failing to ensure timely payment of salaries to law enforcement personnel.

In a post on social media, Vijayendra said the government had presented a record budget of ₹4.48 lakh crore and projected the state economy as strong. However, he argued that the inability to pay salaries to police personnel revealed a stark contradiction between the government’s claims and the ground reality.

“The government claims the state’s finances are robust and celebrates a massive budget. But if it cannot even pay the salaries of the police who work day and night to maintain law and order, it raises serious questions about its financial management,” he said.

The BJP leader also accused the government of spending huge amounts on publicity while allegedly neglecting the welfare of frontline personnel responsible for maintaining security and public order.

Demanding immediate action, Vijayendra urged the state government to release the pending salaries without further delay and ensure that such situations do not recur in the future.

With the issue gaining attention across the state, pressure is mounting on the government to clarify the reasons for the delay and take steps to ensure timely salary payments to police personnel. The controversy has also intensified the ongoing political confrontation between the ruling Congress government and the opposition BJP in Karnataka.