Hyderabad, January 11, Akia News India : The Congress government in Telangana has come under fire from senior BRS leader Shaik Abdullah Sohail, who accused it of neglecting minority welfare and failing to honor its electoral promises. Speaking at a press conference, Sohail alleged that the Congress has only utilised 24% of the allocated Rs 3,003 crore minority welfare budget for 2024-25, describing it as the lowest expenditure since the state’s formation.

“Despite promises to raise the minorities’ welfare budget to Rs 4,000 crore, the Congress allocated only Rs 3,003 crore and has spent less than Rs 750 crore so far. This is a betrayal of the minorities’ trust,” he said.

Unfulfilled Promises and Broken Commitments

Sohail highlighted key unfulfilled promises from the Congress’ Minorities Declaration, including the introduction of a Minorities Sub-Plan, a caste census for fair reservations, Rs 1,000 crore annually for subsidised loans to minority youth, and the Abdul Kalam Taufa-e-Taleem scheme for higher education. He also pointed out the lack of efforts to safeguard land for Muslim and Christian graveyards, describing the Congress government’s approach as apathetic.

Comparison with BRS Achievements

The BRS leader contrasted the Congress government’s record with that of the previous BRS administration, which he claimed prioritised minority welfare. “During the BRS tenure, the minority welfare budget saw a 113% increase, from Rs 1,030 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 2,200 crore in 2023-24. Over Rs 2,258 crore was spent on the Shaadi Mubarak scheme, benefiting more than 2,68,000 Muslim girls. The establishment of 205 Minority Residential Schools, with an investment of Rs 700 crore, provided quality education to nearly 1,00,000 students,” he stated.

Criticism of Current Schemes

Sohail also criticised the Congress government’s handling of welfare programs, particularly the Shaadi Mubarak scheme, which he claimed received only Rs 215 crore of its Rs 650 crore allocation. He noted that the Telangana Wakf Board had utilised just Rs 51.56 crore out of its Rs 120 crore budget, while other schemes, such as bank-linked subsidies and training programs, remain largely inactive.

He specifically called out the controversial Indiramma Mahila Shakti scheme for distributing sewing machines to minority women, citing unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and additional costs imposed on applicants. “Expecting poor women to spend 15% of the machine’s cost on documentation is both illogical and unfair,” he remarked.

Call for Action

Shaik Abdullah Sohail urged Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, who holds the portfolio of Minority Welfare, to address these issues and fulfill election promises. He called for immediate implementation of the Minorities Sub-Plan, increased welfare spending, and provision of interest-free loans to unemployed youth.

“The Congress must remember that minorities voted for them with the hope of change, but their performance has been nothing short of disappointing,” he concluded.