Bengaluru, Sep 1 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s “Khatakhat” slogan has acquired a new meaning in Karnataka, with BJP leader and Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka accusing the Congress government of using a mass re-verification drive to cut beneficiaries from its guarantee schemes.
In a post on social media platform X, Ashoka on Tuesday took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s oft-repeated “khatakhat” phrase, saying it had acquired a “new meaning” in Karnataka.
Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, Ashoka said the “Khatakhat, Khatakhat” promise of delivering guarantees to people at lightning speed had now turned into “Khatakhat – cut the beneficiaries”.
It may be noted that Rahul Gandhi, while launching the guarantee schemes and on subsequent occasions, used the term “Khatakhat (immediately and continuously)” to refer to the transfer of money to beneficiaries’ accounts under the schemes.
“People of Karnataka were told ‘Khatakhat, Khatakhat’ meant guarantees reaching people at lightning speed. Three years later, Congress is teaching Karnataka what Khatakhat really means: cut the beneficiaries,” Ashoka said.
He alleged that the Congress government was carrying out large-scale re-verification as the state treasury came under financial pressure.
Ashoka outlined what he described as the “Guarantee Model” in Karnataka, saying the Congress party had promised benefits to people without conditions to secure votes, while the government’s finances were now under strain.
“The Promise: Free-flowing cash and benefits khatakhat to grab votes. The Reality: State coffers emptied khatakhat to fund political gimmicks. The Betrayal: 6-member committees deployed at ward and panchayat levels to delete beneficiaries khatakhat!” he said.
Ashoka further alleged that around 4,600 committee members were being sent door-to-door with mobile applications to collect photographs, documents and phone numbers from beneficiaries.
He termed the exercise “official harassment” and alleged that it was aimed at reducing welfare beneficiary lists and concealing the government’s alleged financial mismanagement.
“What Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi sold as an unconditional guarantee has turned into a Guarantee with an Exit Clause,” Ashoka said.
Addressing Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, the BJP leader said, “CM D.K. Shivakumar avare (ji), stop hiding behind ‘re-verification’ apps. Admit that your guarantees were a fraud on the people of Karnataka!”
The Congress government’s guarantee schemes, including financial assistance and free or subsidised services, have been a major plank of its governance and political messaging in Karnataka. The BJP has repeatedly criticised the implementation and financial burden of the schemes.
–IANS
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