With the experience garnered from Karnataka in delivering schemes, Kharge asked the Maharashtra Congress to plan their proposals only based on available finances.
Published Nov 01, 2024 | 12:04 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 01, 2024 | 12:04 PM
KPCC president and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at the party workers' convention in Mangaluru. (X)
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday, 31 October, took Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar — also the party’s state chief — to task over his comments on reviewing the popular Shakti scheme providing free travel for women on non-luxury state government-owned buses.
Speaking at a Congress event to observe former prime minister Indira Gandhi’s death anniversary, Kharge said, “Looking at your five guarantees, I have announced five in Maharashtra. But you (Shivakumar) have said that one (guarantee) will be dropped.”
Shivakumar had mentioned that there was pressure from women as some wanted to pay for their tickets and hence there would be a rethink on the scheme.
When Shivakumar responded by saying, “I did not say that,” Kharge hit back, “You are not reading the newspapers.”
With the experience garnered from Karnataka in delivering schemes, Kharge asked the Maharashtra Congress to plan their proposals only based on available finances.
“I have said they should not announce five, six, 10 or 20 guarantees. They should announce based on budget. Otherwise, they will be bankrupt. If there is no money for roads, everyone will turn against you.”
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah came to the defence of his deputy saying that the focus was only on revision. However, Kharge did not buy that argument saying, “By saying revision, you have created doubts and that is enough for those who want to criticise.”
The chief minister had initially responded to the media that there was no proposal to review the scheme. “There is no such proposal before the government.”
Even Shivakumar had clarified his statement on the scheme. “I said that some private company employees are getting transportation allowance and have volunteered to pay for the tickets. How can we force someone if they want to pay for the tickets?” he asked.
The Shakti scheme was one of the five guarantees the Congress had made ahead of the May 2023 Assembly polls.
The scheme, launched in Karnataka on 11 June 2023, was later replicated by the Congress government in Telangana.
Speaking to reporters after flagging off the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation’s (KSRTC) new Airavat Club Class 2.0 buses, he said, “Many women have been communicating to us through social media and emails that they would like to pay for their tickets. We will discuss this.”
“About 5-10 percent of women are saying that the conductors are not taking money for the tickets even when they volunteer to pay. I will soon hold a meeting with Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy and discuss this matter,” Shivakumar, also the state Congress president, said.
He also spoke about how KSTRC had made a name for itself in the nation by receiving 112 national and international awards.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
