The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Karnataka): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar expressed his dismay on Saturday at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reported comments about the ‘Shakti scheme.’ Shivakumar criticized the PM, suggesting he was uninformed about the program.
Shivakumar posted on X, “Shocking to hear PM discrediting the Karnataka government’s Shakti scheme, without taking any cognisance of facts or ground reality. I am taking up on his statement point by point. Shakti scheme has benefitted lakhs of women already and continues to do so every day by catering to their travel needs, free of cost.”
He refuted the PM’s alleged claims, highlighting that the scheme did not cause pollution or harm Metro services. On the contrary, Metro profits have reportedly increased by 30%, amounting to 130 crore. Shivakumar emphasized, “I hope PM is aware that metro service is there only in Bengaluru but our Shakti scheme benefits the entire Karnataka, so the question of loss or profit to Metro becomes meaningless here.”
The Deputy CM also mentioned that over 1,000 buses have been added to the state’s fleet, with more to come. He affirmed the commitment to the “Na Nayaki” of Karnataka, aiming to continue delivering on their promises outlined in their five guarantees.
The context of PM Modi’s remarks stems from a recent interview discussing bus and metro rail services, though it remains unclear if Karnataka was specifically mentioned.