BRS Accuses Congress of Plotting to Scrap Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leaders accused the Congress government of conspiring to scrap the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak welfare schemes during a press conference at Telangana Bhavan in Hyderabad on Thursday. BRS general secretary RS Praveen Kumar questioned the Revanth Reddy administration for failing to file a counter-affidavit in the High Court to defend the welfare programmes.

Citing the High Court's directions stopping the implementation of eight government orders in a single day, Praveen Kumar questioned why the state government failed to submit its response or instruct the Advocate General to defend the schemes in court. He stated that the welfare programmes, introduced during former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao's tenure, had benefited Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, Backward Class, and minority families.

Praveen Kumar alleged that the state government had already stalled Kalyana Lakshmi payments under the pretext of verification. He questioned the role of BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, the nodal minister for Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak, asking why the government had not reviewed the court case. He further claimed that public funds were being diverted toward large contractors while targeting BRS-era welfare initiatives, demanding an immediate counter-affidavit from the state to clarify its stance.

Former Minister Satyavathi Rathod described the schemes as the brainchild of Chandrashekhar Rao aimed at uplifting marginalised sections. She suspected the involvement of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy behind the court petition and urged the government to defend the programmes in court.

Former MLA Methuku Anand added that the current administration was attempting to weaken welfare programmes to erase Chandrashekhar Rao's legacy. He noted that while the previous BRS government implemented both schemes without listing them in an election manifesto, the Congress delayed its promise of one tola of gold and has now stalled the schemes entirely.

The BRS leadership demanded immediate government action to ensure eligible beneficiaries receive financial assistance under both welfare programmes, warning that the administration would face public anger if the schemes were discontinued.