Tejasvi Surya criticises state budget, alleges minority-focused allocations

Bengaluru: The state budget presented by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has triggered a political debate, with Tejasvi Surya of the Bharatiya Janata Party strongly criticising the financial statement and alleging that it disproportionately favours minority communities.

Reacting to the budget through a post on social media platform X, Surya said the financial document could not be described as a “budget for all sections of society”. Instead, he alleged that the allocation of funds reflected a clear tilt toward minority-focused schemes.

According to Surya, the government had proposed an allocation of nearly ₹1,000 crore for the upgradation of schools serving minority communities. He questioned whether similar priority had been given to the maintenance and development of Hindu temples across the state.

The BJP MP also criticised the proposal to provide financial assistance of up to ₹3 lakh for unemployed youth belonging to minority communities. Surya argued that unemployed youth from the general category had not been offered similar support and were left with only assurances.

He further questioned the government’s plan to construct Haj Bhavans in cities such as Hubballi and Kalaburagi, asking whether the administration had considered improving infrastructure at major Hindu religious centres.

Surya alleged that the budget reflected what he termed “appeasement politics” and accused the government of prioritising a specific community in its welfare initiatives. He also questioned whether the Chief Minister was governing for the entire state or favouring one section of society.

The BJP leader warned that such policies could lead to growing dissatisfaction among the public and said the people of Karnataka would respond politically if they felt that development and welfare benefits were not being distributed fairly.

The state government, however, has defended the budget, stating that the allocations were designed to promote inclusive growth and address the needs of various communities across the state.