Ruling Congress MLA HC Balakrishna has advocated stopping the Karnataka government’s guarantee schemes in case the party fails to win the maximum number of seats in the state in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, assuming the people reject the schemes.

The Magadi MLA said he had spoken to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, adding that it was up to the people to decide whether they wanted ‘akshate’ (along with the ‘akshate’ distributed by RSS/VHP organizers or volunteers). Rice grains mixed with turmeric and ghee) before consecrating the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya) or five assurance schemes.

While the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party lashed out at MLAs and the Congress government, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar sought clarification and said any guarantee scheme would not be stopped and would continue to be implemented.

“We will work hard and our government will be there for five years and I ask you one thing, whether your vote is for Akshat or for the five guarantees,” Balakrishna said.

“We are all Hindus and we respect the construction of the temple, but our argument is that it is not right to seek votes in the name of the temple,” he said while addressing a rally in a nearby constituency. “In this case , if people vote (for the BJP) to build the temple…I told our chief minister and deputy chief minister – if people let us (Congress) win majority, we will continue with the safeguard scheme in MP (Parliament) elections. If not, it can be assumed that people have rejected these guarantees,” he added.

Asking people further what else the Congress should think if the votes go against it, the MLA told the women that 80-85% of the funds in these guarantee schemes go to women – who in many cases are also the matriarchs of the family. .

Listing out the benefits of the guarantee scheme, he further said, “Despite all this, what decision should we make if people don’t vote for us and reject us? These guarantees have no value but akshate has value. So, We will remove the guarantee and we will also build a temple, worship there, give Akshat and get votes.” “Tell me what to do? Whether you want guarantee or akshate. A decision has to be taken. I have told the chief minister , because of the plans of his government, people should let the Congress win and elect MPs from our party, if not then people will understand that people don’t want your assurance that we will take the money and do development work ,” he added.

The five guarantee schemes of the Congress government are: 200 units of free electricity to all households (Gruha Jyoti), monthly assistance of Rs 2,000 to the female head of each household (Gruha Lakshmi), cash in lieu of additional Rs 5 Kilogram rice Rs 3,000 per month to each member of the BPL family (Anna Bhagya) for unemployed postgraduate youth, Rs 1,500 for unemployed diploma holders (YuvaNidhi) and free public transport buses for women (Shakti).

Responding to a reporter’s question on Balakrishna’s remarks, Siddaramaiah said: “I don’t know in what context he said it… but we will not stop the guarantee schemes at any cost, they will continue, Because they are programs for the benefit of the people.” Poor. ” Shivakumar also said that any guarantee scheme will not be discontinued in Karnataka and will continue for five years. “The BJP had earlier threatened (during the assembly polls) that these guarantee schemes would not be discontinued if the Congress came to power. The schemes will be implemented only before the elections (to the Lok Sabha), Balakrishna tried to confirm that only the Congress party can implement these safeguard schemes, while warning the people (about the BJP),” he said while trying to clarify the statement of the party legislator and clarifying the misunderstanding. Reacting to Balakrishna’s remarks in Chikkamagaluru, BJP state president BY Vijayendra said that this shows that Congress leaders who dream of winning more than 20 of the 28 assembly seats in the state, even in the Lok Sabha Defeat was accepted before the polls were announced.

He accused the Congress party of winning the assembly elections last year and coming to power on “false assurances” and said the BJP would not let this government do injustice to the people of the state. “This is nothing but blackmail… Congress should be ashamed.” Several other BJP leaders also slammed the Congress and Awami League statements.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)