Bharat Rashtra Samithi working president K. T. Rama Rao, known as KTR, called for statewide protests across Telangana on Monday, August 17, 2026. The demonstrations target the Congress government over the Telangana High Court's recent four-week stay on the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak welfare schemes. KTR accused the ruling party of plotting to scrap these crucial marriage assistance programs.[siasat+2]
High Court Halts Marriage Aid
The Telangana High Court issued an interim stay on the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak schemes on August 12, 2026. Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar ordered the halt of disbursements to beneficiaries for four weeks. This decision came after the state government failed to file a counter-affidavit in response to a public interest litigation challenging the schemes' constitutional validity.[siasat+3]
Advocate Vijay Gopal filed the petition, arguing that the schemes lacked legislative or statutory backing. He also questioned the government's authority to set eligibility criteria and spend substantial amounts from the state's Consolidated Fund without proper legal provisions. The court had previously given the government time to respond but received no affidavit.The next hearing for the case is scheduled for September 9, 2026.[siasat+5]
BRS Alleges Government Conspiracy
KTR stated that the Congress government is using the High Court's judgment as an excuse to discontinue the schemes. He claimed the government deliberately failed to defend the programs in court. KTR highlighted that the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak schemes are vital for the self-respect and future of poor girls in Telangana.[siasat+2]
He criticized the government for allegedly neglecting the legal defense of these schemes. KTR questioned why the government would pay large sums to private lawyers for other cases but not adequately protect welfare programs benefiting millions. He called this a "conspiracy" to cancel the schemes.[siasat+2]
Scheme Details and Impact
The Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak schemes were launched on October 2, 2014, by then-Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. These programs provide financial assistance for marriages to girls from economically distressed families in Telangana. The initial aid was ₹51,000, which later increased to ₹75,116 and then to ₹1,00,116.
The schemes aim to prevent child marriages and ease the financial burden on poor families. Girls must be Telangana residents, at least 18 years old, with a parental annual income not exceeding ₹2 lakh. Kalyana Lakshmi serves Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, and Economically Backward Classes. Shaadi Mubarak specifically assists girls from minority communities, including Muslim and Christian families.[medak+4]
Duringthe previous BRS government's tenure, approximately 13 lakh families received financial aid totaling around ₹13,000 crore through these schemes. KTR emphasized that the BRS government continued these payments even during severe economic crises like the pandemic.[medak+6]
Unfulfilled Promises and Demands
KTR also reminded the public of the Congress party's election promise to provide a "tola of gold" (10 grams) along with the Kalyana Lakshmi assistance. He alleged that the current government is now trying to cancel the scheme instead of fulfilling its own promises.
The BRS working president demanded that the government immediately clear all pending eligible applications. He also called for the prompt release of financial assistance to beneficiaries. KTR warned of strong public backlash if attempts to withdraw the schemes continue.[siasat+3]
Statewide Protest Plan
KTR directed BRS leaders and party members to organize protests at constituency and mandal centers across Telangana. He urged them to raise their voices against the alleged move to scrap the schemes. The protests aim to expose what the BRS calls the "deceitful stance" of the Congress government to the public.
BRS leaders plan to campaign among the people and question Congress leaders in every village and ward about the status of the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak schemes and the promised gold. The party vowed to strongly oppose any efforts to discontinue these vital welfare programs.[siasat+3]
The ongoing legal challenge and the resulting political protests highlight the significant impact of these welfare schemes on Telangana's poor families. The state government now faces pressure to address the High Court's concerns and clarify its stance on the future of the Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak programs.[hindustantimes+2]
