Minority Welfare Spending Row Sparks Political Attack
- BRS leader Sohail targets Congress over minority welfare spending
- Budget allocations and utilisation raise questions on promises
Hyderabad, March 24: A fresh political row has erupted over minority welfare spending after BRS senior leader Shaik Abdullah Sohail accused the Congress government of failing to fulfil its promises. He alleged that low spending and reduced allocations have affected benefits meant for minority communities.
Sohail said the Congress had promised an annual allocation of Rs. 4,000 crore for minority welfare when it came to power in December 2023. However, he pointed out that the 2025-26 budget allocated Rs. 3,591 crore and the 2026-27 budget proposed Rs. 3,769 crore. Both figures fall short of the promised amount.
He further stated that even these allocations are misleading. He said a part of the funds is linked to general schemes such as Rajiv Yuva Vikasam, which covers multiple communities. “If such clubbed allocations are excluded, the actual amount earmarked exclusively for minorities is significantly lower,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sohail raised concerns about the implementation of schemes. He said Rs. 1,000 crore was allocated last year under the Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme for minorities. However, he claimed that not a single rupee loan was given to jobless minority youth. He also criticised Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka for highlighting distribution figures without disclosing spending details.
He also cited official data to underline poor utilisation of funds. He said that in 2024-25, against a revised estimate of Rs. 2,150.78 crore, the government spent only Rs. 793.79 crore. This reflects a utilisation rate of just 37%. Therefore, he described the shortfall of over Rs. 1,357 crore as a major setback.
Sohail added that while allocations increased over the years, actual spending declined. “This shows that the government is making announcements without the capacity or intent to implement them,” he alleged.
He also flagged delays in scholarship disbursement. He said funds meant for pre-matric, post-matric and overseas scholarships did not reach students on time. He noted that the allocation for tuition fee reimbursement dropped from Rs. 300 crore in 2025-26 to Rs. 100 crore in 2026-27.
Further, he spoke about allocations within departments. He said TMREIS received Rs. 723.72 crore for establishment and Rs. 625 crore for schemes in 2026-27. However, he alleged that infrastructure and hostel facilities have not improved accordingly.
Sohail also criticised the unchanged Rs. 130 crore allocation for overseas scholarships and the Rs. 4 crore provision for study circles. He said these amounts are not enough to meet demand.
He stated that several promises in the Minority Declaration remain unfulfilled. These include schemes like Abdul Kalam Taufa-e-Taleem, enhanced honorarium for Imams and Muezzins, and increased Shaadi Mubarak assistance.
He also alleged a lack of regular reviews of welfare schemes. “Not even half of the allocated funds were spent last year, and this year too the trend continues. This is the lowest level of spending in recent history,” he said.
Sohail demanded full utilisation of funds and adherence to the Rs. 4,000 crore commitment. He called for transparency and timely delivery of benefits. “Minorities were promised empowerment, but what they are getting is neglect. The government must correct its course and ensure that every rupee allocated reaches the intended beneficiaries,” he added.
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