Karnataka government providing subsidized vehicles exclusively to Muslims? Read the fact-check
NewsMeter found that the Karnataka government has announced the scheme for all religious minority communities, not exclusively for Muslims.
By Md Mahfooz Alam Published on 9 Sep 2023 10:10 AM GMT
Screengrabs of the X post.
Several social media users have claimed that the Congress-led Karnataka government has announced a subsidy scheme as a gift to Muslims for their upliftment. The posts claim that the beneficiaries will be provided with a subsidy of three lakhs for buying autos, taxis, and goods vehicles.
The posts also feature a poster providing details about the eligibility and documents required to avail of the scheme. It clearly stated that the scheme is for the development of minorities.
An X (formerly Twitter) user shared a poster with the caption, “Karnataka government’s new gift to Muslims. Hindus are sold for Rs 200-300, now look at the condition of Hindus and look at the condition of Muslims (translated from Hindi).”
(Image Credit: X/@BharatBhavsar11)
Another X handle also shared the poster, claiming the same.
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the Karnataka government has announced the scheme for all religious minority communities, not exclusively for Muslims.
We ran a relevant keyword search and came across a Hindustan Times report dated August 23, 2023. The report reports that the Minorities Welfare Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan has announced a subsidy of three lakhs for the unemployed to buy four-wheelers.
Further, we checked the official website of Karnataka Minority Development Corporation Limited (KMDCL) and found a notification titled “Subsidy Scheme for Purchase of Taxi/Goods Vehicle/Passenger Autorickshaw.”
The notification stated that the scheme is being implemented in collaboration with nationalised and scheduled banks. The beneficiaries whose loans have been approved by the banks for passenger Autorickshaw, Goods Vehicle and Taxi will be provided with a subsidy of 50 per cent of the value of the vehicle or a maximum subsidy of three lakhs.
The notification clearly stated that the scheme can only be availed by the state religious minority communities. The applicant must be a resident of Karnataka aged between 18 to 55 years.
Further, we checked the about section of the website and found people belonging to Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh and Parsi communities fall under religious minorities in Karnataka.
Hence, we conclude that the Karnataka state government is providing a subsidy on commercial vehicles to the unemployed of state religious minority communities and not exclusively to Muslims.
