Give guarantees based on budget: Congress chief raps Karnataka on Shakti scheme
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday advised Congress units headed for Assembly elections not to announce guarantees without considering their budget.
This remark came after the Congress-led Karnataka government said that it would review the Shakti scheme, which ensured to provide free bus services to women commuters. However, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar has said that the scheme will not be reviewed.
Dressing down the Karnataka Congress over not meeting their guarantees, Kharge said, “You promised five guarantees in Karnataka. Inspired by you, we made a promise of five guarantees in Maharashtra. Today, you mentioned that you would cancel one of those guarantees. It seems like you don’t read all the newspapers, but I do, so I’m telling you this.”
Asking the Congress chief to apologise for “misleading the public,” BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “For the first time Congress has accepted that they have misled the public…Will Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge apologise for what is happening in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh?… The INDI alliance will do the same in Maharashtra and Jharkhand and mislead the public…Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the nation…”
CONGRESS CHIEF RAPS DK SHIVKUMAR: YOU HAVE GIVEN BJP A CHANCE
Meanwhile, Kharge pulled up Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar over his remark that the Karnataka government would review the Shakti scheme. On Wednesday, Shivkumar said that the government would review the scheme as some women have expressed their wish to pay the fares for government buses.
Defending his deputy, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that Shivkumar had only said the government would review it. In response, Kharge said, “Whatever (DCM) you have said has given them (BJP) a chance.”
GIVE GUARENTEES THAT ALIGN WITH YOUR BUDGET: KHARGE
Asking them to carefully consider all factors, Kharge cautioned party-units going to elections that an unplanned approach could give rise to financial problems and cast a negative impression upon future generations.
Addressing the media briefing, Kharge highlighted the role of financial responsibility, saying that if the government is unable to deliver upon its guarantees, it will lead to bad reputations and hardships for the communities.
“I advised Maharashtra Congress leaders not to keep making promises of five, six, seven, or eight guarantees. Instead, make promises that align with your budget. Making promises without considering the budget could lead to bankruptcy; there wouldn’t even be money to put sand on the roads. If this government fails, it will impact future generations. It could lead to disrepute, and the government might face restrictions for the next ten years,” Kharge said.
PROUD OF KARNATAKA GUARANTEE MODEL: SHIVKUMAR
After being scolded by the party chief, Shivkumar changed his tune, and said that he is proud of the Karnataka government’s guarantee model.
“Karnataka guarantee model is a model for the entire country. BJP and other parties are also adopting it and we are proud that we could implement that and we could deliver that. The people of Karnataka and the country are very happy with our model,” he said.