The Karnataka Congress on Wednesday made its first poll promise of providing 200 units of free electricity to every household in the state every month.
Addressing a gathering at the launch of "Praja Dhwani Yatre" (election rally) at Chikkodi in Belagavi district, KPCC chief D.K. Shivakumar announced that his party would launch the new scheme — "Gruha Jyoti Yojana" if voted to power in the upcoming Assembly polls.
"The common man is buckling under inflation and the Congress party has decided to make five promises to bring light into your lives. The first of those promises is 200 units of free electricity," said Shivakumar, who also slammed the BJP government for failing on their promise of doubling the farmers' income, loan waiver of up to Rs one lakh and 10 HP power for 10 hours daily.
Recalling that the free electricity scheme was first started by the Congress government led by S. Bangarappa, Shivakumar stated that the previous Siddaramaiah government, where he was the power minister, had increased the duration of power supply to farmers from six hours to seven hours daily.
Calling it a historical day, the Congress chief said the Yatra hoped to hear out the people's grievances and opinions to try and provide solutions.
In 1924, Mahatma Gandhi, after taking over as the Congress president at Belagavi, had resolved to drive out the British from India. Today, we are taking out the Yatra from the same place with the resolve to fight the BJP.
"We have released BJP's saga of sins, corruption and sex scandals. The ministers will go scot-free in every case as B report will be filed and the chief minister and the home minister will give them a clean chit too. Do you need such a government? The 40 per cent-commission government is also seeding communal hatred. They have a bribe rate card for every work in every department and for every post too," charged Shivakumar.
