New Delhi – Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has accused the Narendra Modi-led Union government of “snatching away” educational scholarships meant for students from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and minority communities. He claimed that the government’s “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” slogan is a mockery of the aspirations of disadvantaged students.
Citing data from Budget documents and Rajya Sabha replies, Kharge presented statistics showing a sharp decline in scholarship beneficiaries over the years:
77% drop in pre-matric OBC scholarship beneficiaries over the past five years
94% decline in scholarships for minorities in four years
57% reduction in scholarships for SC students
Kharge, in a post on X , alleged that the Modi government has slashed scholarship beneficiaries across categories while also cutting overall spending. “The Modi government has reduced scholarship funds by 25% annually on average,” he stated.
He further questioned how the government expects to boost youth employment if students from weaker sections are denied educational opportunities. “Your slogan of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ mocks the aspirations of the weaker sections every day,” he remarked.
The allegations come amid rising concerns over funding cuts in education schemes for marginalized communities, with opposition leaders demanding greater accountability.
