The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has raised concerns about the Telangana government’s use of Minority Welfare Funds. The party opposes the decision to spend these funds on hosting an Iftar party ahead of Ramzan.
During a media briefing, BJP spokesperson NV Subash urged the Congress-led government, under Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, to listen to civil society activists. He stressed that welfare funds should be used for their intended purposes.
Several activists have also voiced their opposition to this expenditure. These include former High Court judge Justice Chandrakumar, social and environmental activist Dr Lubna Sarwath, Congress party member Saleem Alhindi, and Syed Rafi, General Secretary of the Movement for Peace and Justice, along with other public figures.
Subash criticized the allocation of Rs 70 crore for the Iftar event, calling it unjustifiable, especially considering the financial difficulties faced by the State. He pointed out that if Telangana’s economy was strong, the government could focus on development projects instead. However, since the Chief Minister himself has admitted to the State’s financial struggles, such spending is irresponsible.
He also criticized Greater Hyderabad Minority Congress Chairman Harshad Shaik for defending the expenditure by arguing that similar amounts had been spent over the past ten years. Subash dismissed this reasoning, saying that just because something was done before does not mean it should continue, especially when the State is facing a financial crisis.
The BJP reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that all welfare funds, including those meant for minorities, are used transparently and benefit the intended communities. The party urged the Telangana government to be financially responsible and prioritize essential welfare programs instead of spending on extravagant events.
