Decision to reduce price of cylinders an election gimmick: Shettar

Hubballi, NT Bureau: “Reducing the price of cylinders right before the Lok Sabha elections, isn’t it just an election gimmick?” questioned former CM Jagadish Shettar, adding that the Congress had previously introduced guarantee schemes ahead of assembly elections.

He mentioned that even during his tenure, he announced guarantees in his budget. Speaking to the media in the city, Shettar commented on the newly launched Gruha Lakshmi Scheme.

He emphasized that labeling it as a gimmick is unjustified. He highlighted that during the tenure of a past BJP government, he had orchestrated a program to inaugurate a government scheme and had convened a meeting for beneficiaries of central government schemes.

He urged for a more positive approach towards the pro-people schemes introduced by the state government instead of solely criticizing them.

Referring to the recent permission to clubs and bars to operate throughout the night, Shettar remarked that the regular timings are still being upheld.

He questioned the basis of using this as a point of criticism, highlighting that such circumstances existed during BJP governance too.

He admitted that mistakes made by the BJP government were openly acknowledged, even to this day. Shettar also touched upon recent developments in the state.

He revealed that substantial projects were sanctioned and tenders were invited within the past few months. However, he noted a discrepancy where these actions lacked the necessary approval from the Finance Department.

Reflecting on the past, he mentioned that Siddaramaiah had presented the 14th budget only after meticulous calculations and considerations.