Karnataka Minister Apologises in Assembly Over Incorrect Gruha Lakshmi Fund Details

Karnataka Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar tendered an apology in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday for providing inaccurate information regarding the disbursal of funds under the Congress government's flagship Gruha Lakshmi scheme. The admission sparked intense proceedings, leading to a dramatic walkout by Opposition BJP members dissatisfied with the government's explanations.

Hebbalkar acknowledged that instalments for two months had not been transferred via Direct Benefit Transfer to beneficiaries, despite her prior assertions to the contrary. While expressing regret for any distress caused to House members by her earlier statement, she reaffirmed the scheme's status as a key Congress initiative being executed diligently, which provides Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to approximately 1.26 crore women heads of Below Poverty Line households.

The controversy escalated when BJP legislators accused the government of deliberately misleading the Assembly, claiming that payments for February and March remained pending, contradicting official statements suggesting clearances up to August. The Opposition disrupted proceedings from the outset, descending into the well of the House with slogans demanding the minister's immediate clarification, resulting in an adjournment exceeding one hour.

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Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka emphasized that the grievance centered on the plight of awaiting beneficiaries rather than partisan politics, calling for the erroneous statement to be expunged from records and a firm commitment on the release timeline for arrears. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar countered by highlighting alleged delays in central funds owed to Karnataka and rejected implications of financial shortfall as the sole cause.

Tensions peaked when Hebbalkar suggested she was being singled out due to her gender, prompting rebuttals from BJP members who insisted the issue transcended personal attributes and concerned the welfare of millions. Deeming the ministerial response inadequate, Ashoka led the BJP contingent in a walkout, underscoring persistent discontent with the handling of the scheme's implementation delays.

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