Bengaluru: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Monday promised to give Rs 2,000 a month each to housewives in every household if voted to power, while speaking at the party's mega women's convention named 'Na Nayaki (I am the leader)' at the Palace Grounds. Titled the 'Gruha Lakshmi' scheme, it would benefit 1.5-crore housewives, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) said. The announcement comes within days of the party promising to provide 200 units of free every month to all households in the State, where Assembly elections are due by May.
Priyanka arrived in Bengaluru on Monday and was received by former CM Siddaramaih, KPCC President DK Shivakumar, and other leaders at the airport. Addressing the audience, Gandhi further appealed for votes while asking people to inspect the situation of the state under BJP's regime.
"Gruha Lakshmi Yojana" is an attempt of the Congress party to share the "burden of the exorbitant" LPG prices and the "costly daily expenses" that a woman has to bear, the party said. The Congress wants every woman of the State to be empowered and capable of standing on her own feet and also taking care of her children. Congress wants to provide financial independence to each woman of Karnataka, it said.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said a separate manifesto for women would be released in the State and alleged rampant corruption in the BJP-ruled State.
"I am told that the situation in Karnataka is very shameful. I am told that your Ministers are taking 40 per cent commission on jobs," Vadra said during the women-centric event titled "Na Nayaki" (I am a woman leader). She alleged that Rs 1.5 lakh crore of public money has been looted in Karnataka.
"Think about some development that has to take place in Bengaluru for Rs 8,000 crore and Rs 3,200 crore is going into commission," Vadra alleged.
Referring to the alleged police sub-inspector recruitment scam, Vadra said, "Nothing moves without paying bribes in Karnataka." There are shameful scams like the PSI scam where the police posts are being sold. You educate your children, the young boys and girls to get them jobs. Is this what you expect from the people in power, the Congress leader asked. She alleged that people have to pay bribes for borewells, driving licences, housing, transfers and almost everything related to government work.
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai meanwhile ridiculed Gandhi's event, saying the Congress general secretary has reached a stage where she herself has to announce that she is a leader. The chief minister said since there are no women rallying behind her, Gandhi herself had to announce "Na Nayaki", adding the women of Karnataka are not ready to accept her call. "Let her (Priyanka) come. Many people come to Bengaluru. I don't have an objection. May the event take place properly, but one thing which I am failing to understand is the title of the programme Na Nayaki," Bommai said.
Also read: BJP National Executive Meeting: Traffic advisory issued for PM Modi's roadshow in Delhi today
"Today people have to say Na Nayaki by keeping Priyanka Gandhi's photo. Such a situation has risen where Priyanka Gandhi has to announce herself as a woman leader," Bommai added. On the Congress proposing to come out with a women-specific budget if it is voted to power in the coming polls, Bommai said the party will never get a chance for it. "The Congress leaders know that they will not come to power, so they are giving all kinds of assurances," he said.
The convention has been organised by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), while the Assembly elections in the state are due and will likely be held by May. More than a lakh women from across the state, representing every gram panchayat will take part in the convention. AICC President Mallikarjuna Kharge, Congress State President D.K. Shivakumar, Opposition leader Siddaramaiah, and Women's Wing President Puspa Amarnath are some of the prominent names who will be participating in the convention.
This is likely an attempt by the Karnataka Congress to counter the BJP's high-profile campaign involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the government as well as party programmes. PM Modi is expected to participate in two more programmes this month and already attended one recently in the state, presenting a hectic political activity ahead of the Assembly polls scheduled to be held in less than 80 days.
The ruling BJP has already begun campaigning with the announcement of some popular programmes. The Congress has meanwhile launched anti-government campaigns and is trying to set the momentum in the state. The nod of the Union government for the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Mahadayi and its decision to increase the quota for the SC and STs, and declaration of reservation for Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities are some of the issues that will play a crucial role in the elections.
