Shivakumar Targets BJP Over Ram Temple Donations, Says Guarantees Will Continue

Addressing a Congress workers' convention organised by the Bidar District Congress Committee, Shivakumar referred to the BJP's campaign in which Ram Mandir Akshate was distributed to households.

"People donated everything for the Ram Temple—from bricks and cash to gold and silver. BJP leaders distributed Akshate by mixing turmeric with our rice and sought publicity. Ask those who distributed the Mantrakshate what happened to the Ram Temple donations," he said.

Alleging that religion had been misused for political purposes, Shivakumar said those who had "looted in the name of religion and Lord Ram" no longer had the moral right to seek votes from the public.

The Chief Minister also sought to allay concerns over the state government's guarantee schemes, asserting that they would continue and were not being withdrawn.

He clarified that the ongoing verification exercise was only meant to eliminate irregularities such as duplicate beneficiaries, multiple beneficiaries linked to the same bank account or mobile number, and payments made in the names of deceased persons.

"The guarantee schemes are not being stopped. They will continue for all eligible beneficiaries in Karnataka. There is no reason for anyone to panic," he said.

Shivakumar also expressed confidence that the Congress would retain power in Karnataka in the 2028 Assembly elections and urged party workers to work towards winning all six Assembly constituencies in Bidar district.

"The Congress government has fulfilled the promises it made to the people by implementing the five guarantee schemes and several welfare programmes. Be confident that this government will return in 2028 and work to ensure victory in all six constituencies in Bidar," he said.

Shivakumar also announced that the Congress would constitute six-member Guarantee Committees in every gram panchayat within a month.