Bengaluru: Congress president Mallikarjuna Kharge on Thursday disapproved of comments by party leaders in Karnataka over statements that he said could create doubts over the state government's commitment towards its guarantee programmes. His statement at the party office in Bengaluru came in response to deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar's comments suggesting a review of the Shakti scheme that provides for free bus travel for women in the state. He issued a mild caution to leaders about the potential damage such statements could cause.
Kharge said any such talk would sow the seeds of doubts in people and asked chief minister Siddaramaiah to stick to the promises made in the budget. He also told party leaders to put any more discussion on the subject at rest. Kharge did not want any confusion over the Congress party's commitment to guarantees ahead of assembly polls in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, as well as bypolls for three Lok Sabha and 47 assembly seats including three in Karnataka. "In Maharashtra also, I have said we must promise only those guarantees we would have resources to implement," he said, speaking after paying tribute to Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary.
NO REVIEW
Chief minister Siddaramaiah ruled out any review of Shakti. There is no such proposal before the government, he said soon after the party event.
Speculations about a review of the Shakti free bus travel scheme for women swirled around after Shivakumar on Wednesday said he had received mails from sections of women urging the government to collect bus fares from those who were willing to pay. He sounded amenable to the idea and said he would discuss it with transport minister Ramalinga Reddy.
The remarks by Shivakumar, who is also the president of the Karnataka Congress, triggered criticism from the opposition BJP and JDS. Union minister and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy, speaking at poll-bound Channapatna, said the deputy CM's comment indicated first moves towards ending the guarantee schemes in phases.
Union minister Pralhad Joshi and former CM Basavaraj Bommai too slammed the government for hinting at a review of the scheme. The CM's office, to silence critics of the welfare guarantees, said the government had enough resources to run them.
Kharge said any such talk would sow the seeds of doubts in people and asked chief minister Siddaramaiah to stick to the promises made in the budget. He also told party leaders to put any more discussion on the subject at rest. Kharge did not want any confusion over the Congress party's commitment to guarantees ahead of assembly polls in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, as well as bypolls for three Lok Sabha and 47 assembly seats including three in Karnataka. "In Maharashtra also, I have said we must promise only those guarantees we would have resources to implement," he said, speaking after paying tribute to Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary.
NO REVIEW
Chief minister Siddaramaiah ruled out any review of Shakti. There is no such proposal before the government, he said soon after the party event.
Speculations about a review of the Shakti free bus travel scheme for women swirled around after Shivakumar on Wednesday said he had received mails from sections of women urging the government to collect bus fares from those who were willing to pay. He sounded amenable to the idea and said he would discuss it with transport minister Ramalinga Reddy.
The remarks by Shivakumar, who is also the president of the Karnataka Congress, triggered criticism from the opposition BJP and JDS. Union minister and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy, speaking at poll-bound Channapatna, said the deputy CM's comment indicated first moves towards ending the guarantee schemes in phases.
Union minister Pralhad Joshi and former CM Basavaraj Bommai too slammed the government for hinting at a review of the scheme. The CM's office, to silence critics of the welfare guarantees, said the government had enough resources to run them.
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