Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the central government for cutting the Ministry of Minority Affairs’ budget and reducing scholarships for minorities. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, he highlighted a 38% budget cut, reducing funds from Rs 5,000 crores to Rs 3,000 crores, questioning how India can progress while neglecting its 17 crore Muslims.
Owaisi pointed out that only 58% of the promised 1 crore scholarships since 2019 have been delivered. He expressed concern over low Muslim enrollment in higher education, which stands at just 5%, and their low employment rates, with only 26% in casual employment and the lowest proportion in self-employment. He also highlighted that Muslim admissions in the 15-24 age group are at 29%, significantly lower than SCs at 44%, OBCs at 52%, and Upper Castes at 59%.
Owaisi accused the government of failing to develop Muslim-majority areas and making false promises. He criticized the allocation of Rs 97 crores to the Haj committee, alleging corruption and calling for a CBI inquiry and the committee’s dissolution.
He also accused Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of ignoring child hunger, noting that 66 million children go to bed hungry every night, blaming the government for this misfortune. Owaisi mocked the internship scheme’s “unrealistic targets” and questioned the selection of the top 500 companies, hinting that the PM might be directing Agniveers to join these internships after four years of service.
He sarcastically suggested the finance minister might introduce an unemployment tax and expressed disappointment over minimal increases in social welfare programs. Owaisi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of favoring allies over the middle class and pointed out a real-term reduction in funding for the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
On national security, he raised concerns that the armed forces cannot patrol 26 out of 65 points in Ladakh and criticized the increase in imports from China, which reached $101 billion in 2024.
Owaisi also mentioned that 15,000 MSMEs shut down in February 2024 and criticized the government for not establishing an IIT, IIM, or ITR in Andhra Pradesh despite promises made during the state’s bifurcation. He concluded by saying, “The Modi government says ‘Khelo India,’ but their budget says ‘Jhelo India’.”