Mandya
A black flag march was staged in Karnataka by workers of the Karnataka Dalit Sangharsh Samiti, demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. They protested against the transfer of SCSP and TSP grants meant for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes development to the Guarantee Scheme. The activists marched from Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar circle to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, where they submitted a petition.
The state government has been accused of transferring Rs 25.282 crore from SCSP and TSP grants to the Guarantee Scheme, with allegations of misappropriating Rs 105.469 crore. Additionally, concerns were raised about Rs 187 crore allegedly embezzled in the Valmiki Corporation. Activists criticized the misuse of funds intended for Dalit development under the Scheduled Caste-Scheduled Tribes Development Act.
The protestors called for the distribution of Rs 25 lakh to each Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe family in the state, funded from the withdrawn Rs 80,000 crores over the past decade. They demanded legal action against officials and politicians involved in misusing SCSP and TSP grants, advocating for their imprisonment. They urged for a CBI investigation into the alleged multi-crore corruption in the Valmiki Development Corporation.
Furthermore, the activists requested the Mandya City Development Authority to provide land for constructing a Buddhist Vihara, with tax waivers for religious and cultural activities of the Scheduled Community members who have embraced Buddhism. They also called for the repeal of newly enacted Indian Penal Code, Indian Civil Protection Code, and Indian Evidence Code, citing concerns about their impact on freedom of expression and human rights protection.State President Venkatagiriiah and other leaders led the protest, joined by numerous activists from across the region.
