Bengaluru, 4 Oct

Congress General Secretary and Karnataka-in charge Randeep Singh Surjewala hit back at JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda’s claims that the State’s five guarantee schemes are a financial burden, terming the Opposition BJP-JD(S) “blind”.

“They can’t see the huge life changing impact and metamorphosis” of the guarantees, Surjewala wrote on X. “Such political parties should hang their heads in shame.”

Lauding the initiatives, he noted that women had taken 504 crore free bus trips under Shakti guarantee,  saying it was a  “new World Record”.

“90 per cent of households saved money and had extra money for ‘household needs’ owing to Gruha Jyothi Guarantee of giving 200 Units of Free Electricity to 1,66,00,000 households,” he added. “Gruha Lakshmi, Gruha Jyothi and Anna Bhagya has boosted family savings and economic prosperity.”

Deve Gowda had claimed on Friday that the government did not have the budget for compensation funds to the flood-affected people, owing to the guarantee schemes.

“Now, none less then Former PM, Sh. HD Deve Gowda has been fielded by BJP to oppose the guarantees!” Surjewala wrote.  “Every Kannadiga knows that the BJP-JD(S) wants to stop the five Congress guarantees so that the flag of social distributive justice is halted”