Congress MLAs Stage Walkout in Gujarat Assembly Over SC and OBC Fund Allocation Concerns
In a dramatic turn of events at the Gujarat assembly on Thursday, opposition Congress MLAs staged a walkout during the question hour. The walkout was prompted by allegations that the state government is making lower budgetary allocations for scheduled castes (SCs) and other backward castes (OBCs), coupled with claims of underutilization of funds earmarked for these communities.
Allegations of Inadequate Funding and Underutilization
Congress MLAs, led by members such as Shailesh Parmar and Amit Chavda, raised pointed questions regarding the allocation and expenditure of funds. Shailesh Parmar questioned whether allocations are based on population or economic conditions, asserting that sections comprising approximately 68% of Gujarat's population receive disproportionately lower funding. Amit Chavda further alleged that between 28% and 58% of funds allocated to various boards and corporations under the Social Justice and Empowerment (SJE) department remain unutilized.
Minister's Defense and Financial Data
In response, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Manisha Vakil provided detailed financial figures to counter the allegations. She stated that over the past five years, boards and corporations under her department utilized significant amounts: Rs 322.29 crore in 2021-22, Rs 467.27 crore in 2022-23, Rs 432.02 crore in 2023-24, Rs 640.68 crore in 2024-25, and Rs 243.99 crore until January in the current financial year. Additionally, she highlighted that the department has allocations exceeding Rs 7,000 crore for SC welfare schemes beyond these figures.
Minister Vakil attributed any unspent amounts to administrative challenges, including incomplete documentation, absence of property cards, KYC-related issues, and discrepancies in applications. She emphasized that expenditure typically increases in the final months of the financial year, suggesting that the cited figures might not reflect the full annual utilization.
Parliamentary Disruption and Speaker's Intervention
The session grew tense as exchanges between ruling party and opposition members escalated. State minister Jitu Vaghani raised a point of order, accusing Congress MLAs of speaking out of turn and interrupting Minister Vakil during her replies. He was supported by ruling party MLAs Arjun Modhwadia and Ramanlal Vora, who called for disciplinary action against the Congress legislators.
Speaker Shankar Chaudhary intervened, stressing the importance of parliamentary decorum. He reminded members that they must seek permission before speaking and cannot dictate the type of reply a minister provides. Chaudhary condemned the walkout, stating, "I formally reprimand the Congress members for their conduct." He noted that by walking out, the Congress MLAs forfeited their opportunity to raise other questions listed by their party, undermining the crucial role of question hour in addressing public issues.
Walkout and Aftermath
Following the Speaker's caution against interrupting the minister, all 12 Congress MLAs staged a walkout from the assembly. However, they returned to the House after a brief period. The incident highlights ongoing tensions in Gujarat's political landscape over resource allocation for marginalized communities, with both sides presenting conflicting data and perspectives on fund utilization and welfare priorities.
