Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah criticized the Maharashtra BJP for allegedly spreading misinformation about Karnataka’s Gruha Lakshmi scheme.

In a post on X, Siddaramaiah accused the Maharashtra BJP of trying to tarnish the success of the Congress-led scheme by publishing “blatant lies” in media advertisements. He said the Maharashtra BJP has alleged that the Karnataka government has not fulfilled its promise regarding the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, which provides monthly financial assistance to female heads of households in Karnataka, and called Siddaramaiah’s statement an “absolute fabrication”.

He was referring to an advertisement titled ‘Vaada kiya, dhoka diya’ (meaning promises made but betrayed) published in a newspaper published by the BJP.

“Under the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, Rs 2,000 is being deposited every month into the bank accounts of 1.22 crore female heads of households in Karnataka since August 2023. A total of Rs 30,285 has been paid so far,” Siddaramaiah said. He invited skeptics to verify the program’s effectiveness directly with beneficiaries.

Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Siddaramaiah claimed that the “misleading tactics” of the Maharashtra BJP were inspired by Modi’s own approach, urging Modi to apologize to the nation for “blatant lies” and make public the truth about the scheme.

Maharashtra demanded that the BJP withdraw its advertisements and issue corrections of equal importance in the media. Siddaramaiah warned that if they fail to comply, the Karnataka government will consider taking further action against misinformation.

At an election rally in Sandur, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah accused the BJP of being a “factory of lies”, accusing it of failing to fulfill promises made at both the state and national levels. He questioned Prime Minister Modi’s Acche Din promise and pointed out that the national debt had increased from Rs 54 lakh crore to Rs 185 lakh crore in 2014. He said the Karnataka Congress made promises and fulfilled them.