Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar Clarifies Statement on Shakti Scheme

In Bengaluru, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar addressed the media to clarify his previous statement about the ‘Shakti’ guarantee scheme, which offers free bus travel to women. This came after Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge expressed concerns over Shivakumar’s comments about reviewing the scheme.

Shivakumar explained that his statement was misunderstood and emphasized the importance of following the guidance of senior leaders. He stated, “Whatever our elders say we follow that. My statement was twisted. A few have suggested is what I have said. There is no question of closing the schemes. I had just said that we will discuss it. But the BJP just wants to do politics. They have nothing to do better.”

He also mentioned that this was the first time such a misunderstanding had occurred since he became Deputy CM. When asked about a letter from Basanagouda Patil Yatnal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shivakumar dismissed it, saying, “I don’t want to speak on people who are mad and who needs to hospitalized. He first had to be treated.”

Mallikarjun Kharge had previously assured that the Karnataka government is committed to protecting farmers’ properties and questioned the BJP’s record on safeguarding temples during its previous tenure. The Congress government in Karnataka introduced the Shakti scheme as one of its five guarantees, providing free bus rides for women in non-luxury government buses.