Congress leader says Karnataka's hike in taxes for development, not for guarantee schemes

Party leader Mehroz Khan elaborated that the exercises are normal for any government and they should not be connected with the social security schemes of the state government.

Mysuru: Vice-chairman of Karnataka State Guarantees Implementation Authority Mehroz Khan said Wednesday that the increase in a few taxes are a regular exercise to mobilse and increase revenue for development of the state and to improve facilities and infrastructure and they have no connection with the implementation of the five guarantees.

Addressing a media conference, here, on Wednesday, Khan, also KPCC war-room in-charge, said, the exercises are normal for any government and they should not be connected with the social security schemes of the Congress-led government.

Describing the five guarantees as the biggest social security scheme of the world, Khan said, they were implemented for the welfare of the people and not for just winning votes in elections.

"Four crore people of 1.4 crore families are the beneficiaries of the guarantee schemes. There were criticism that the guarantee schemes would land Karnataka in a financial crisis, by opponents. But, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar have efficiently managed the budget and finances. On the contrary, they have empowered the people and have improved their financial condition,” he said.

“Due to the Shakti scheme, that facilitates free KSRTC bus rides for women, the government transport corporation has earned a profit of Rs 3,900 crore over the past one year, since the schemes were implemented. It has also helped increase financial activities in and around pilgrimage and tourist destinations. It has also increased GST collection, as business has increased,” Khan said.

In response to the comment of KPCC spokesperson M Lakshmana, who was Congress candidate in the Lok Sabha election from Mysore-Kodagu segment, that the government should have a ‘re-look’ at the guarantee schemes, Khan said he did not know in what context Lakshmana sought a re-look.

“But, there is no talk of either review or stalling of the guarantee schemes,” he said.

Mysuru district (rural) Congress president B J Vijayakumar, city (district) president R Murthy, Bhaskar Gowda, Girish and Chandrashekar were present in the media conference.