‘Congress govt has infused nearly ₹1 lakh crore into the hands of the poor through its welfare schemes’
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday said the Congress government has directly infused nearly ₹1 lakh crore into the hands of the poor through various welfare programmes.
Speaking at the state Congress office during the birth anniversary celebrations of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and former Chief Minister D. Devaraj Urs, Shivakumar highlighted the scale of ongoing guarantee schemes. “We have allocated ₹20,000 crore for free electricity to farmers, ₹10,000 crore for pensions, and ₹52,000 crore for the five guarantees. Along with other social initiatives, the total reaches ₹1 lakh crore,” he said.
The Deputy CM contrasted this with previous governments, questioning the BJP and JD(S) over their contributions to farmers and the poor. Recalling his own tenure as an MLA, he noted how Congress governments had strengthened panchayats and expanded welfare funding.
Shivakumar also praised Rajiv Gandhi’s legacy, crediting him for ushering in the computer and telecom revolution, lowering the voting age to 18, and introducing the 74th Constitutional Amendment that empowered local bodies. He said the state government is now moving towards creating five municipal corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority to strengthen governance.
He added that Congress continues to nurture youth leadership, citing the “Run for Rajiv” marathon organised recently by party youth leader B.V. Srinivas, which drew over 15,000 participants. “No other party has made sacrifices like Congress for the nation’s unity and progress,” he said.