Rahul Gandhi lauds Karnataka Govt. For Implementing Sixth Guarantee

Hosapete: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the Karnataka government had taken a historic step towards fulfilling former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s dream by granting land ownership rights and distributing title deeds to the poor — calling it the “sixth guarantee” under the state’s welfare model.

Addressing a public meeting in Hosapete as part of the Pragatiyatta Karnataka – Samarpane Sankalpa campaign to mark two years of Congress-led governance, Gandhi highlighted the distribution of Revenue Village Title Deeds to over one lakh families on the occasion — many of whom have lived for generations without formal land ownership.

“Over one lakh families have now received ownership rights, and 2,000 habitations have been declared revenue villages,” he said and defined it as a step towards fulfilling former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s dream.

“Karnataka should become the first state where every person has legal ownership of their land. I want the guarantee committees at the state, district, and village levels to hand over title deed to every beneficiary," he said.

He further called for expediting the process: “Another 50,000 families still lack land rights. I want them to be covered within six months. Additionally, 500 more habitations should be declared revenue villages.”

While five guarantees were announced ahead of the 2023 Assembly elections, Gandhi said the land title initiative was a crucial addition.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leaders had said the five guarantees could not be implemented. But today, crores of women are receiving Rs 2,000 each month under Gruha Lakshmi, households are getting free electricity under Gruha Jyoti, and families are availing rice through Anna Bhagya. Over 5,000 crore free bus trips have been provided under the Shakti Yojana, and unemployed youth are being supported through Yuva Nidhi,” he said.

Calling these measures not just welfare but economic engines, Gandhi added, “When we put money in the hands of people, it flows into local markets and strengthens rural economies. Unlike the BJP model, where resources benefit a handful of billionaires, our approach empowers the poor — Dalits, Adivasis, backward communities, and farmers.”

He also spoke about addressing the long-pending issue of land rights. “For years, lakhs of families in Karnataka lived on land without any documents as their hamlets were not even recognised as revenue villages. Due to this, they got no benefits from the government,” he said.

“I discussed this with Kharge ji, Siddaramaiah ji, D.K. Shivakumar ji and other ministers. I told them that anyone living on land should be given rightful ownership.”

Gandhi also stressed the need for a digital land registry. “In the 21st century, the poor should not have to run from pillar to post for a copy of their land record. A digital system will ensure they can access documents anytime.”

“Though we had promised five guarantees, we have delivered a sixth — one that will help secure Karnataka’s future,” he said.

Criticising the BJP’s economic approach, Gandhi alleged that under their model, wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few billionaires who invest abroad rather than in rural India.

“In their model, two or three get all the money, and they use it to buy assets in places like London and New York — not in our villages. But when we put money into your pockets, it fuels local markets, generates employment, and supports healthcare and education,” he said. “In their model, people fall into debt for basic healthcare and education. In ours, we ensure that families have the financial support they need,” he added.