Karnataka's Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar issued a formal apology in the state Legislative Assembly on Wednesday for providing incorrect information regarding the payment of installments under the flagship Gruha Lakshmi scheme. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rejected her apology, calling it inadequate, and staged a walkout from the House.
The Core of the Controversy
The issue came to light following a question raised by BJP legislator Mahesh Tenginkai on December 12. During that session, Minister Hebbalkar had asserted that all monthly installments of Rs 2,000 per beneficiary had been disbursed up to August. However, the BJP later presented official documents contradicting her statement, showing that payments for the months of February and March 2025 had been skipped for approximately 1.2 crore women beneficiaries.
The opposition accused the minister of deliberately misleading the legislature and demanded both an apology and a clear timeline for clearing the pending dues. For three consecutive days, BJP members stalled assembly proceedings, insisting on a clarification.
Minister's Statement and Apology
Breaking the deadlock, Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar addressed the House on Wednesday. She explained that her earlier statement was based on the belief that all payments, including those for February and March, had been completed. "On verification, it was found that payments for those two months were not deposited," she stated.
Hebbalkar offered an unconditional apology, saying, "If my earlier statement has hurt anyone, I apologise." She provided key figures about the scheme's implementation, noting that the government has so far disbursed Rs 52,400 crore under Gruha Lakshmi, with each beneficiary receiving Rs 46,000 through 23 installments. She estimated that about Rs 5,000 crore is required to clear the current pending dues and assured members that the pending payments would be released after discussions with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who holds the finance portfolio.
Political Fallout and Walkout
The BJP swiftly dismissed the minister's apology. Opposition Leader R. Ashoka argued that the statement lacked clarity on two critical points:
- The specific reason for the payment delay.
- A concrete date for the release of the pending funds.
Ashoka alleged financial mismanagement by the Congress government. In response, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar intervened, asserting the government's full commitment to honoring all its guarantee schemes and rejecting claims of financial distress.
The proceedings grew heated as Hebbalkar accused the BJP of targeting her personally, a charge the opposition denied. Following the exchange, BJP members walked out of the Assembly in protest. Earlier, the House had to be adjourned for nearly an hour as Speaker U.T. Khader, along with Deputy CM Shivakumar, RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge, and Minister Hebbalkar, held consultations to resolve the impasse.
The incident highlights the ongoing political tensions in Karnataka over the implementation of welfare schemes and has put the government's financial management under scrutiny from the opposition.
