Members of the Opposition BJP staged a walkout in the Karnataka Assembly on Wednesday, alleging that Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar had misled the House by denying that the beneficiaries of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme had not been paid for February and March 2025.
Story continues below this ad
Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka sought clarification regarding Hebbalkar’s reply made on December 12 to a question raised by BJP MLA Mahesh Tenginakai. Tenginakai highlighted that the dole of Rs 2,000 had not been paid to the beneficiaries of the Government’s flagship guarantee scheme for the two months.
Tenginakai and other BJP legislators had then accused the minister of misleading the Assembly and sought an apology from her.
Story continues below this ad
On Wednesday, the BJP MLAs demanded that the minister be summoned, and entered the Well of the Assembly protesting against her.
The Assembly was adjourned for more than an hour, after which R Ashoka said the minister had claimed to have cleared all dues till October. “Around Rs 5,000 crore was not paid for two months to 1.25 crore beneficiaries… The minister should have told Tenginakai earlier that she would check and respond,” the BJP MLA said, demanding an apology from the minister.
Story continues below this ad
Hebbalkar acknowledged that Gruha Lakshmi benefits (for women heads of families) were not paid for the two months. “My intention was not to mislead the House,” she said, adding that she had maintained that all dues till August had been cleared.
Assuring that she would take up the matter with the chief minister and the finance department, Hebbalkar said that the pending payments would be made soon. “I apologise if anyone was hurt by my reply,” she said.
This led to a din in the Assembly during which BJP MLA Sunil Kumar urged the Government to admit that it was bankrupt, while MLA Araga Jnanendra sought action against the officer responsible for the lapse.
Story continues below this ad
After the treasury and Opposition benches traded barbs over the issue, Hebbalkar expressed regret for her earlier reply and apologised again. However, there was another din when she claimed that she was being targeted by the Opposition for being a woman.
The BJP MLAs eventually staged a walkout, saying that they were unhappy about the ministers’ response.