Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday apologised for saying that the Congress government’s guarantee schemes had led rural women astray.
“I apologise to all women… If my words have hurt any women, then I am ready to apologise,” Kumaraswamy said at a press conference.
Their (Congress) programmes keep people dependent,” the former chief minister said.
This government announced five guarantees for elections last year, (after which) my mothers in villages have gone a little astray.
Several ministers of the Karnataka Congress government condemned the statement by Kumarawamy.
Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Karnataka chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday apologised for saying that the Congress government’s guarantee schemes had led rural women astray.
“I apologise to all women… If my words have hurt any women, then I am ready to apologise,” Kumaraswamy said at a press conference. He said he did not insult any woman or use any words to hurt them. “They (Congress) have depicted it as if I have committed a grave mistake,” he said.
The Congress in Karnataka had accused Kumaraswamy of demeaning women, and the Mahila Congress staged a protest in Mandya, where Kumaraswamy is contesting as the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
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Kumaraswamy on Monday said he was trying to convey to the women that the government gives them Rs 2,000 as part of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme after “pick-pocketing Rs 5,000- 6,000 from their husbands”. He was referring to the Gruha Lakshmi scheme where women heads of families receive Rs 2,000 per month.
“To make them aware of this, I asked them not to fall for guarantees. Rs 2,000 will not give permanent relief. Their (Congress) programmes keep people dependent,” the former chief minister said.
Whike campaigning for the BJP’s Tumkur Lok Sabha candidate V Somanna at Turuvekere on Saturday, Kumaraswamy said, “People should listen to these few words carefully. This government announced five guarantees for elections last year, (after which) my mothers in villages have gone a little astray. We should think about what their lives will become. You should think about the lives of your families.”
After Kumaraswamy’s statement, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah lashed out at the JD(S) leader saying that the statement “reflected his mentality”, while his deputy D K Shivakumar called the remarks ‘demeaning’ towards women. Several ministers of the Karnataka Congress government condemned the statement by Kumarawamy.
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On Monday, in a retort, Kumaraswamy referred to the recent remarks by All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary R S Surjewala on BJP MP Hema Malini and of Congress leaders on actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut. “What do you have to say about that Mr Shivakumar?” he asked.
The Election Commission of India had issued a show-cause notice to Surjewala, finding that his recent remarks about Hema Malini were “highly undignified, vulgar and uncivilised”.
Congress leaders Supriya Shrinate and H S Ahir had triggered a political row by making alleged derogatory comments about Ranaut, the BJP’s candidate from Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi.
