Gujarat government not spending enough on minorities: Congress

Congress MLA from Ahmedabad Gyasuddin Shaikh today accused the BJP-led Gujarat government of not spending enough for the development of minorities.
In a written question during question hour in the Gujarat Assembly today, Shaikh sought details of the budget allocated by the Gujarat government for the development of minorities in the state during last three years.
He also wanted to know the actual expenditure on minorities from these budgetary allocations, a press release issued by Shaikh said here today.
In his written reply, Gujarat Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Ramanlal Vora stated that out of Rs 40.13 crore budget allocated to minorities, Rs 40.12 crore was spent in 2012-13.

In 2013, the Gujarat government spent a total budget of Rs 97.46 crore.
For 2014-15 (until December), the state allocated Rs110.42 crore, out of which Rs 19.53 crore was spent last year.

Though the financial year was yet to be over, Shaikh alleged that the government would spend another Rs 4.88 crore on minorities.
"If they have spent Rs 19.53 crore in nine months, then they will spend another Rs 4.88 crore in three months, taking the total to just Rs 24.41 crore out of the total allocation of Rs 110.42 crore," Shaikh said.
He claimed that the Gujarat government was not serious about the development of minorities and only use them during elections.

"BJP remembers them only during elections and makes promises to uplift them, but they put aside all these promises after coming to power," the release said.
He claimed that the expenditure on minorities during this financial year, does not not have any contribution from the Gujarat government.
"The Gujarat state government claims to spent Rs 19.53 crore till December. However, as per my knowledge, that money was actually given by the previous UPA government to Gujarat for development of minorities. Otherwise, the Gujarat state government has not given any allocation for minorities," Shaikh claimed.