The Karnataka government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress party, has unveiled a new scheme aimed at providing financial assistance to members of minority communities in the state for purchasing vehicles. Under this scheme, minority community members will be eligible for a substantial subsidy of Rs 3 lakh when buying a four-wheeler of their choice. Additionally, the government has committed to assisting them in securing loans from various banks to cover the remaining cost of the vehicle.
To qualify for this program, applicants must meet specific criteria. They must belong to a religious minority community, be permanent residents of Karnataka, and have an annual income below Rs 4,50,000. The scheme’s primary objective is to empower individuals within minority communities by enabling them to become vehicle owners, thereby enhancing their economic opportunities.
Karnataka’s Minorities Welfare and Wakf Minister, Zameer Ahmed Khan, emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting minority community members. He stated that the scheme aims to transform drivers into vehicle owners by offering them a substantial subsidy of Rs 3 lakh. In addition to the subsidy, the government will facilitate bank loans to cover the remaining vehicle cost, requiring applicants to make a modest pre-payment of 10% of the car’s value. For example, if the vehicle’s price is Rs 8 lakh, the applicant would need to pay an initial sum of Rs 80,000.
This initiative is not entirely new, as it was previously implemented during the Siddaramaiah regime but subsequently removed by the BJP government. However, it has now been reintroduced by the Congress government, leading to political controversy and differing reactions.
The opposition, particularly the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), has criticized the Congress government’s move, labelling it as appeasement politics and a religion-targeted scheme. BJP spokesperson Ashok MM expressed concerns about the scheme being perceived as another instance of political freebies, potentially exacerbating existing political tensions. BJP leader Tejasvi Surya accused the Congress of imposing additional financial burdens on the middle class through various measures, including increased guidance values, electricity charges, excise duty, and more, to fund what he characterizes as a religion-targeted program. CT Ravi, another BJP figure, echoed these sentiments, describing the scheme as an act of appeasement politics that undermines the majority population who supported the Congress with the promise of lies and guarantees.
The Karnataka government, led by the Congress party, has announced a subsidy scheme aimed at supporting minority community members in purchasing vehicles. While the government’s intentions are to empower these individuals economically, the initiative has sparked controversy and criticism from the opposition, who view it as a form of appeasement politics and a divisive program.
