Welfare funding row triggers BRS walkout

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) staged a walkout from the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Saturday, protesting what it termed as inadequate responses and insufficient budgetary allocations by the Congress government for key welfare sectors.

During the voting on demands related to BC Welfare, Transport, Panchayat Raj, and Home, BRS legislators alleged that the government had failed to make meaningful allocations to the BC Welfare Corporation and had not fulfilled major promises, including 42 percent reservations for Backward Classes in local bodies and the construction of BC Atma Gaurava Bhavans. The party also criticized the absence of a dedicated BC Sub Plan in the budget.

BRS MLA Gangula Kamalakar questioned the number of contracts awarded to BC contractors since the Congress assumed office, while Khairatabad MLA Danam Nagender demanded the introduction of a BC Bandhu scheme and allocation of funds for a Munnuru Kapu Bhavan. Responding to the concerns, BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar stated that the government is committed to enhancing BC reservations and is actively considering a BC Sub Plan along with appointments to corporation posts.

During discussions on Women Welfare and Panchayat Raj, BRS members highlighted delays in Kalyana Lakshmi payments, pending salaries for panchayat  employees, and inadequate support for widows, differently abled persons, and beneficiaries under the Mahalakshmi scheme. Narsapur MLA Sunitha Laxma Reddy noted that salaries had been delayed for three months and some beneficiaries had been waiting for assistance for over two years.

In protest against what they described as unsatisfactory replies, BRS members staged a walkout.

Reacting strongly, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka criticised the opposition, stating that BRS legislators appeared to attend the session only to walk out, calling the move unjustified and inconsistent with their demand for longer Assembly sessions.