BJP government cut funds in welfare schemes, favoured corporates: P Chidambaram

KARAIKUDI (TN): Senior Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram has charged the BJP government with cutting funds to the tune of Rs 75,000 crore for various welfare schemes, including the noon meal scheme and Indira Group House scheme.

"BJP government cut funds to the tune of Rs 75,000 crore for various welfare schemes, including the noon meal scheme and Indira Group House scheme," Chidambaram alleged at a Congress workers meet in his native Sivaganga District, late last night.

"Even as the government has cut the expenses on welfare schemes, it has extended tax concessions to the tune of Rs two lakh crore for corporates," he added.

On the defeat of Congress in the Lok Sabha elections, he said it was due to people getting 'tired' of the party.

Chidambaram, who opted out of the contest and fielded his son Karti in his Sivaganga Lok Sabha seat, said he expected Congress would be defeated in the Parliament polls.

On elections in Tamil Nadu, he claimed some people take money for votes. "It is a big blot on the state. I used to shed tears whenever I thought of that," he added.

Chidambaram said Congress used to have village-level block committees in the state but he was not sure whether such a setup existed now.