Bengaluru, 1 Nov

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said his statement on 'Shakti scheme' was distorted and presented as if Congress government in the State wanted to withdraw it.

Shivakumar's reaction came after Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge subtly pulled him in public for his statement that some women wished to pay for travelling in the buses.

"Whatever statement I had made was distorted as if we would stop it (Shakti scheme). I only said some section of people is saying so. There is no question of winding up any guarantee," the Deputy CM told reporters here.

According to him, some people voluntarily wish to pay for their travel.

"Even though these women are willing to pay, the conductors are afraid of collecting money from them. I said we will discuss it," Shivakumar said.

Shakti is one of the five guarantees offering free rides for Karnataka women in non-luxury government buses anywhere in the state.

Deputy CM slammed the Opposition for making a fuss about it.

"Politics is important for the Opposition parties. They could not introduce such schemes and now they are unable to tolerate it. Playing with emotions, clashes, fights between parents, siblings and in-laws is their job and not the development of the State is their (BJP) politics," Shivakumar said.

Kharge on Thursday said, "You have given some guarantees. After seeing them, I too said in Maharashtra that there are five guarantees in Karnataka. Now you (Shivakumar) said you will withdraw one guarantee."

Congress chief said Shivakumar’s statement about reviewing the Shakti scheme had given BJP a chance.

Regarding Kharge’s call for unity in the party, Shivakumar said the message was not for him or anyone else present there.

"It was not for us. He (Kharge) has only sent a message to the workers on various occasions," the Deputy CM said. -PTI