Political Firestorm: Gruha Lakshmi Scheme Under Siege in Karnataka

H D Deve Gowda criticized Karnataka's Congress-led government, claiming it's bankrupt and will halt the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, which benefits BPL women. D K Shivakumar countered, accusing JD(S) and BJP of undermining welfare initiatives. The scheme faces scrutiny amid election campaigning in Channapatna.

In a heated political affair, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda has lambasted the Congress-led Karnataka government, declaring it bankrupt and predicting the cessation of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme. This welfare program offers Rs 2,000 to the women heads of BPL families and represents one of the five guarantees made by the Congress government.

Gowda's assertions have been met with strong opposition from Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. On Monday, Shivakumar vehemently stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) [JD(S)] have consistently aimed to dismantle the assurances provided by the Congress. He emphasized that the scheme is designed to aid women, particularly mothers and sisters, in addressing their daily challenges.

As the election campaign heats up in Channapatna, where Gowda seeks votes for his grandson Nikhil Kumaraswamy, criticism of the Congress's fiscal management has intensified. Despite these political jabs, Shivakumar reinforced the government's commitment to the scheme, dismissing claims of its impending discontinuation.

(With inputs from agencies.)