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Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, on Friday, warned the Congress government that the people would not remain silent if deceived and would fight back.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was responding to questions about the Shakti scheme, one of several Congress poll guarantees, which provides free bus services to women in Karnataka. "The guarantee (Shakti scheme) should last as long as you (Congress) are in power. You came to power by promising these guarantees to the voters. Your statements (about the Shakti scheme) could turn Congress into a party that betrays the people. People will not remain silent if they feel cheated. They will fight back," he asserted. This response follows advice from Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge to party units preparing for elections, urging them to announce guarantees aligned with their budgets. Kharge advised careful consideration, warning that a poorly planned approach could lead to financial strain and negatively impact future generations. During a press conference, he highlighted the importance of fiscal responsibility, cautioning that failure to fulfil commitments could result in reputational harm and challenges for the community. Kharge said, "In Maharashtra, I advised that they shouldn't announce 5, 10, or 20 guarantees. Guarantees should be based on budget. Otherwise, there'll be bankruptcy. If there's no money for roads, people will turn against you. If this government fails, future generations will inherit only a bad reputation. They'll face a decade in exile." Kharge's comments came after indications that the Karnataka Congress government might review the Shakti scheme, which provides free bus transport for women. However, on Thursday, Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy clarified that there would be no review or suspension of the scheme. Earlier today, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar revised his statement, saying, "Karnataka's guarantee model is an example for the entire country. The BJP and other parties are also adopting it, and we're proud to have implemented and delivered it. The people of Karnataka and the country are very pleased with our model," Shivakumar told reporters. (ANI)
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