Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar Apologises In Assembly After Opposition Flags Gruha Lakshmi Payment Issue
Hebbalkar asserted that there was no intention to mislead the House and clarified that funds had not been diverted
Belagavi : Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar on Wednesday apologised in the Legislative Assembly after the Opposition questioned her statement on payments under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme.
The issue arose after the Minister had stated last week that payments under the scheme had been credited till August. BJP legislators, however, produced documents claiming that instalments for February and March had not been credited, and demanded an explanation.
Responding in the House on Wednesday, Hebbalkar said she had shared information available to her at the time.
“When an MLA had asked about the Gruha Lakshmi scheme earlier, I had stated that payments were credited through DBT till August. The issue of February and March was raised. I verified and later found that payments for those two months were pending,” she said.
She asserted that there was no intention to mislead the House and clarified that funds had not been diverted.
“If anybody has been hurt due to the information given, I express my regret,” she said.
The Opposition, however, insisted on a clear apology. Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka and senior BJP MLA Suresh Kumar said the Minister’s statement did not amount to an apology.
“I had expressed regret. If Suresh Kumar did not like the word ‘regret’ then I apologise,” Hebbalkar said.
Meanwhile BJP leader Sunil Kumar alleged that the State government was bankrupt, triggering strong protests from the treasury benches.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar objected to the remark.
“Your government announced Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra project but did not release it. Funds under the Jal Jeevan Mission are also pending. Can we call that bankruptcy?” he asked, asserting that Congress guarantees had earned public support and were now being replicated elsewhere.
Following the heated exchange, BJP legislators staged a walkout from the House stating that they would fight till the money is credited to the beneficiaries.