Lakshman clarifies he did not seek discontinuation of guarantee schemes

KPCC spokesperson clarifies stance on guarantee schemes, emphasizes need for review of Gruha Jyothi criteria and system loopholes.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) spokesperson M. Lakshman has clarified that he did not call for discontinuation of guarantee schemes but had merely sought for a review of the criteria for extending free power under the Gruha Jyothi scheme.

Addressing a press conference in Mysuru on Wednesday, Mr. Lakshman said the Gruha Jyothi provides free power upto 200 units for all. Even persons drawing a monthly salary of ₹3 lakh are eligible for the waiver of electricity bills under the scheme. “I wanted the benefits of the scheme to be restricted to needy persons,” he said.

He said he only sought to highlight the loopholes in some of the guarantee schemes like Gruha Jyothi in its existing form.

Mr. Lakshman also sought to clarify that he did not mean to describe the voters as “sadists” as it has been portrayed in a section of the media. “I was only blaming the system for being sadistic. My statement was not meant to describe the voters as sadists,”he said.

He expressed disappointment over a section of the electronic media conducting a debate on his reported statements.

Mr. Lakshman’s reported statements were made at a recent press conference he convened after the results of the Lok Sabha were declared. As a Congress candidate from Mysuru Lok Sabha constituency, Mr. Lakshman was defeated by the BJP’s Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar.

Lakshman said he will be available to the voters of the constituency even though he lost the elections. He promised to entertain all the voters irrespective of the choices in the recent elections. “I will entertain all of them in the office and try to resolve their problems through the Ministers. The Congress government will remain in office for another four years,” he said.