Yediyurappa Government Scraps Karnataka’s Brazenly Communal Welfare Scheme Shaadi Bhagya

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has called the curtains on former chief minister Siddharamaiah’s ‘popular minority friendly’ scheme Shadi Bhaagya that gave 'minority’ brides a one time financial assistance of Rs 50,000 at the time of marriage.

By allotting no funds in the recently announced state budget to the popular Shaadi Bhagya scheme, the government has effectively scrapped the scheme. Instructions to the district commissioners and minority welfare offices were sent by the Directorate of Minorities asking them to stop accepting fresh applications under the ‘Bidaai’ scheme, reports New Indian Express.

The scheme was launched by Siddharamaiah in 2013 soon after assuming office. It is said to have benefited around 1 lakh 'Muslim’’ brides so far. As reported by The Times of India, Minorities welfare minister Shrimant Patil confirmed the same, adding that the 34,000 odd pending applications would be cleared at the earliest.

Siddaramaiah has opposed the move to scrap this scheme and called the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party ‘anti- minority’. Yediyurappa who has been very forefront of the agitations against the bill since its launch, had sought its extension to financially backward girls of all communities.

His government stopped accepting fresh application ever since they took the reins in July 2018. The ministry will clear pending applications using the un-utilised fund of Rs 40 crore in the system.