Wed Dec 17 11:33:32 UTC 2025: ## Karnataka Minister Apologizes for Misleading Assembly on Gruha Lakshmi Payments

BELAGAVI, December 17, 2025 – Karnataka’s Minister for Women and Child Development, Laxmi Hebbalkar, issued an apology in the state Assembly today after admitting to providing inaccurate information regarding the payment of installments for the Gruha Lakshmi scheme. The apology followed a heated protest by BJP members, who demanded accountability for the discrepancy.

The issue arose when Hebbalkar previously claimed that all Gruha Lakshmi installments had been cleared until August 2025, in response to a query from BJP member Mahesh Tenginakayi. Opposition members contested this, asserting that payments for February and March 2025 were outstanding.

Today, Hebbalkar acknowledged that after checking with officials, she discovered that the payments for those two months had indeed not been disbursed. “I did not have any intention of either misleading the House or furnishing false information,” she stated, expressing regret for any hurt caused by her initial statement. She also pledged to investigate the matter with the Finance Department.

The Opposition, however, remained dissatisfied, demanding a formal apology to the scheme’s 1.26 crore beneficiaries and questioning the whereabouts of the ₹5,000 crore allocated for the missing installments. Their protests led to a temporary adjournment of the Assembly.

While ultimately apologizing, Hebbalkar launched a counter-attack, accusing the Opposition of targeting her due to her gender, a claim that further fueled the already tense atmosphere. BJP member V. Sunil Kumar suggested the payment lapse was due to the government’s financial instability.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar defended the government, highlighting outstanding dues from the central government, including ₹5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra Project. He also accused the BJP of copying Congress guarantee schemes in other state elections.

RDPR Minister Priyank Kharge joined the fray, accusing the BJP of resorting to unethical tactics to secure victories. The ensuing verbal sparring led to a walkout by the Opposition, who expressed their continued dissatisfaction with the lack of clarity on when the outstanding payments would be made.

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