Deputy CM accuses BJP of hypocrisy, defends Congress model as benchmark for welfare and development
Mysuru: In a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday accused the saffron party of copying the Congress-led Karnataka government’s guarantee schemes in other states after initially criticising them. He claimed that the Congress model of welfare governance is now being adopted across India, including by the BJP in states like Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Haryana, and Bihar.
Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for several development projects in Mysuru, Shivakumar highlighted the BJP’s double standards on welfare schemes.
“The BJP, which criticised us for implementing guarantee schemes in Karnataka, is now copying our schemes in other states. Congress government’s development works are visible to the people in the state. Criticisms die but good work remains forever,”
— D.K. Shivakumar, Deputy Chief Minister
Guarantees Are a National Model Now, Says DCM
Shivakumar asserted that the guarantee schemes launched by the Congress government have become a national model. He noted that even the Prime Minister had warned that Karnataka would go bankrupt due to these schemes, but the BJP has since mirrored them during elections in various states.
“The BJP went to the extent of announcing its own guarantee schemes even before the Congress party did so during elections in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi and Haryana. It is now copying our schemes in Bihar too,” he added.
Karnataka Has Funds, Opposition is Spreading Misinformation
He dismissed the opposition’s allegations that the government had no funds for development projects, calling it misinformation aimed at misleading the public. Shivakumar said that the Congress-led administration is allocating ₹5,000 crore annually to Kalyana Karnataka, and continues to launch major infrastructure and public welfare projects.
“We launched projects worth ₹2,025 crore in Bidar and ₹3,400 crore in Indi. We are inaugurating and laying foundation stones for projects worth over ₹2,000 crore in Mysuru today,” he said.
The DCM further revealed that the state cabinet had earlier met at Male Mahadeshwara Hills, Vijayanagara, and Nandi Hills, where projects worth ₹3,000 crore, ₹2,000 crore, and ₹2,000 crore respectively were approved.
“We don’t do politics on emotions but our politics is about livelihood,” Shivakumar declared.
Opposition Propaganda on Droughts Fails
He countered opposition narratives linking the Congress party with droughts, pointing to the early filling of the KRS dam as a significant achievement.
“For the first time in 92 years, the KRS dam is full in the month of June. We offered bagina on June 30. This shows BJP’s allegations are only propaganda,” he said.
“This Hand Has Protected You,” Says Shivakumar
“This is your hand. This hand has shut down the Opposition who only criticise, has saved farmers, has empowered women, has given relief from inflation. We are giving away benefits worth ₹5,000 crore every month,”
— D.K. Shivakumar
He praised the Congress party’s historical contributions to social welfare, listing key initiatives including land distribution, pension schemes, Anganwadis, Right to Education, Food Security, and Employment Guarantee schemes.
“Has the BJP or JDS given even a single scheme like this? They have not,” he claimed.
Development, Not Elections, Is the Goal
Shivakumar stated that the ongoing projects are not tied to elections, but meant to reflect the government's commitment to serving the people who elected them.
“We are doing this to let the people know that we are here because of their blessings and also to let the people know what we are doing to empower them. Our government will continue to work for the people irrespective of criticisms by the Opposition,” he emphasised.
Concluding his speech, the Deputy Chief Minister said that under the leadership of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Congress party is determined to continue its developmental efforts.
“We have given ₹3,000 crore for the Cauvery basin area. We are building 2,000 Karnataka Public Schools in the state. We stand for development. I want the people of this region to strengthen our hand in 2028,” he said.
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