‘Bellad showed right way to new generation politicians’, says CM on BJP MLA’s apology
Bengaluru: CM Siddaramaiah stated that BJP MLA Aravind Bellad had apologized for using abusive words and he warmly welcomed the move. He took to X to express his gladness for a rare political gesture, on Tuesday.
“Criticism [and] disagreements are common in politics. Sometimes, in the heat of the moment, a statement that insults another person's dignity comes and goes without [us] realizing it. Deputy Leader of Opposition Arvind Bellad levelled a personal abuse at me while speaking against our government's decision to grant land to the Jindal Company. Realizing his mistake, he apologized through a letter. I welcome this move of his with the utmost openness, and hereby convey that I have neither hatred nor resentment in my heart towards him”, Siddaramaiah wrote in the post.
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The CM said that he too had done the same mistake of using ‘singular-terms’ against his opponents earlier, which he had regretted later. He had taken care that it didn’t happen again, he said. Despite being on the receiving end of personal abuse many times in his 40-year long political career, Siddaramaiah said that it was the first time that a politician had ever apologized on his own for making such comments. Through the written apology, Bellad “has showed the right way to a new generation of politicians”, he said.
Remembering his enduring friendship with the MLA’s father Chandrakanta Bellad, Siddaramaiah called him a gentleman politician. “May Arvind continue his legacy of gentlemanliness”, he added.
Siddaramaiah said that when politics had become only criticisms, accusations and counter-accusations during these days, Arvind Bellad’s actions symbolized the existence of an honourable way of doing things. “The saying ‘there is no greater atonement than repentance’ makes more sense in this context”, he added.
ರಾಜಕೀಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಟೀಕೆ, ಟಿಪ್ಪಣಿಗಳು ಸಹಜ. ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ಉದ್ವೇಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬರ ಘನತೆಗೆ ಚ್ಯುತಿ ತರುವಂತಹ ಹೇಳಿಕೆ ಅರಿವಿಗೆ ಬಾರದೆಯೇ ಬಂದು ಬಿಡುತ್ತದೆ.
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) September 3, 2024
ಜಿಂದಾಲ್ ಕಂಪನಿಗೆ ಭೂಮಿ ನೀಡಿರುವ ನಮ್ಮ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ತೀರ್ಮಾನವನ್ನು ವಿರೋಧಿಸಿ ಮಾತನಾಡುವಾಗ ವಿರೋಧ ಪಕ್ಷದ ಉಪನಾಯಕರಾದ ಅರವಿಂದ ಬೆಲ್ಲದ್ ಅವರು ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕವಾಗಿ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ನಿಂದನೆ… pic.twitter.com/4tmH5OpGdz
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Maharashtra government considers tweaks to Ladki Bahin scheme amid fiscal strain: Reports
Mumbai: A day after the Mahayuti coalition secured a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, attention has turned to the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a flagship welfare scheme that played a pivotal role in attracting women voters.
The scheme, launched in July 2024, offers ₹1,500 per month to economically disadvantaged women aged 18 to 65. The Mahayuti, in its election manifesto, pledged to increase the amount to ₹2,100 per month, a promise now under scrutiny due to fiscal concerns. With the scheme projected to cost the exchequer ₹33,300 crore from July 2024 to March 2025, bureaucrats are exploring ways to revise its provisions to prevent a financial imbalance.
Finance Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar hinted at the challenges, stressing the need for "financial discipline." A senior bureaucrat confirmed that plans are underway to prune the list of beneficiaries, citing the inclusion of ineligible individuals due to incomplete Aadhaar seeding and lack of required ration cards. According to the finance department, nearly one crore women out of the 2.43 crore registered beneficiaries may not qualify for the scheme.
The state’s debt burden is already projected to reach ₹7.82 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2024-25. Officials warn that continuing the scheme in its current form could impact the government’s ability to pay salaries by January. Despite these concerns, the ruling coalition is hesitant to reduce the beneficiary list, likely due to the upcoming civic elections.
Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik is expected to present renegotiation proposals to the new chief minister soon. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde credited the scheme for increasing the number of women voters and boosting the coalition’s vote share. NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar also acknowledged the scheme’s role in mobilising women voters.
Other welfare measures introduced by the government include an electricity bill waiver for farmers and three free LPG cylinders annually for six million households. However, the financial viability of such initiatives remains a pressing concern.
