New Delhi, Dec 17: Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi today came under opposition attack in Lok Sabha for trying to "evade" a direct reply to a question whether the allocation for Sarva Shiksa Abhiyan scheme had been reduced by Rs 17,000 crore. The issue, raised during Question Hour by Jyotiraditya Scindia (Congres), gained support of former premier Chandra Shekhar and members of other opposition parties, when Joshi said the financial allocations were made for a five year period and no complaint had been received from state governments regarding any of their projects under the scheme.
"We simply want to know whether Rs 17,000 crore worth of allocation was reduced or not," Scindia, backed by his party leader P R Dasmunsi, asked, alleging that the minister was hedging a direct reply.
Chandra Shekhar said, "The minister is expected to know the allocation of his department. He should give a reply in 'yes' or 'no'. .... He should say whether he received any communication from the finance ministry reducing the allocation. He should say whether the allocation has been reduced".
Members from other opposition parties also joined in to demand a clear reply from Joshi.
At this point, Speaker Manohar Joshi asked the minister whether provisions were made every year.
To this, the minister replied, "There has been no reduction this year."
As he said this, Rupchand Pal (CPI-M) showed the supplementary budget document and said the allocation has been listed in the demand for grants and the minister was "wrong". Bureau Report