Hyderabad: Opposition parties TDP, CPI, CPM and BJP walked out of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on Thursady alleging large-scale diversion of funds earmarked under SC, ST sub-plans for the state.
The Praja Rajyam Party and Lok Satta Party too registered their protest on the issue even as the Congress government was caught on the defensive.
The matter was raised by senior Congress MLA D L Ravindra Reddy, who pointed out that the SC, ST sub-plan was not being implemented properly in the state.
He also referred to the Planning Commission of India's report that found fault with the state government for not utilising the sub-plan funds properly.
The TDP, CPI, CPM, PRP and BJP MLAs joined chorus on the issue and cornered the government saying there was large-scale diversion of funds meant for SCs and STs.
"In the last five years more than Rs 10,000 crore earmarked under SC, ST sub-plans remained unspent. The amount spent were used for irrelevant works like construction of
Hyderabad Outer Ring Road, improvement of Hussain Sagar lake, development of Krishnapatnam port and other works," Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu alleged.
Of the Rs 5000 crore allotted for SC welfare during the current fiscal, only 32 per cent were utilised, he said.
Praja Rajyam Party leader K Chiranjeevi lamented that SC, ST students were languishing without basic facilities in government-run hostels due to diversion of funds.
CPI, CPM and BJP MLAs too pointed out to the gross diversion of SC, ST funds and demanded that the government come out with a clear assurance on proper utilisation of these amounts meant exclusively for welfare and development of these sections.
Chandrababu demanded that the Chief Minister convene a meeting with SC, ST legislators to look into the issue and take immediate corrective action.
When Chief Minister K Rosaiah did not respond, the TDP, CPI, CPM and BJP MLAs staged a walk out from the House while PRP and Lok Satta Party members registered their protest.
Later, the Chief Minister criticised the opposition parties, particularly TDP, for trying to "talk like champions of SCs and STs."
"It is only the Congress that always cared for the welfare and development of SCs and STs and we shall remain committed to them," Rosaiah said.
Leader of the House J Geeta Reddy took a dig at TDP saying, "Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others."
PTI
First Published: Thursday, March 04, 2010, 13:02