Rahul Gandhi promises unemployment aid, filling up 2.5 lakh govt job vacancies in poll-bound K'taka
Belagavi (K'taka), Mar 20: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday called on party leaders in poll-bound Karnataka to fight the BJP in a united manner as he exuded confidence about "sweeping" the upcoming assembly elections.
The party also wooed the youth with promises of unemployment allowance -- its fourth poll 'guarantee' -- and filling up of vacancies in government jobs, in the event of the party coming to power in the State, where Assembly elections are due by May.
While thanking people of Karnataka for supporting his 'Bharat Jodo Yatra' and making it successful, Gandhi took a dig at the BJP-led government at the Centre.
"The Yatra sent out a message that this country belongs to everyone, not just to select two to three, not Adaniji's (industrialist Gautam Adani). This country belongs to farmers, labourers, the poor and youth," the Wayanad MP said.
He dubbed the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government in Karnataka as "most corrupt in the country" and a "40 per cent commission government".
"We will fight the election together. All Congress leaders will fight together. Congress will sweep this election, because the BJP government is a 40 per cent commission government, and the people of Karnataka want to get rid of this government. They want a government that will work for poor, downtrodden, middle class, small traders," Gandhi said.
Taking into account the message of the youth that they are not getting jobs, the Congress has decided to give Rs 3,000 per month to every graduate, and Rs 1,500 per month to every diploma holder, for two years as unemployment allowance, he said. "We understand your (youth) problem and BJP is not giving you jobs."
He said the Congress government in the state will provide jobs to 10 lakh youth in five years, and assured that 2.5 lakh government vacancies will be filled up.
Addressing the youth convention 'Yuva Kranti Samavesha' organised by the party's state unit here, he said,: "We will defeat BJP together and make Congress win with a huge majority."
His message of unity to party leaders and workers, ahead of ticket distribution, gains significance amid speculation that disgruntlement may surface within the party following the selection of candidates. Also, there is already a game of one-upmanship between top leaders for the Chief Minister post in the event of it coming to power.
This was the former AICC President's first visit to poll-bound Karnataka, months after the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', led by him, marched its way through parts of the state.
During the foot march, there was a clear message against hate, he said, adding: "In the market of hate, lakhs of people had opened shops of love. This is our Hindustan."
Noting that during the yatra, he got two to three clear messages from the people of Karnataka, Gandhi said the youth told him that the state government has failed in providing jobs.
The party has already announced three poll guarantees' 200 units of free power to all households (Gruha Jyoti), Rs 2,000 monthly assistance to the woman head of every family (Gruha Lakshmi), and 10 kg of rice free to every member of a BPL household (Anna Bhagya), on coming to power.
AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, the party's state unit chief D K Shivakumar, Legislature Party leader and Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah among several leaders were part of the mega rally.
Highlighting the major message he got from the people of the state during the Yatra that the incumbent Karnataka administration is the "most corrupt government in the country" with "40 per cent commission" sought in public works, Gandhi said the letters written by the contractors' association and school managements' association to Prime Minister Narendra Modi complaining about the extortion charges "has not got response".
Listing out alleged corruption scandals in the state, he said BJP MLA Madal Virupakshappa's son was caught with Rs 8 crore in the cash-for-contract scam-hit KSDL Corporation, "but no action has been taken, and the government is protecting him".
Also, there were job scams relating to recruitment of Police Sub Inspectors (PSI), Assistant Professor, Assistant Engineers, he further said, adding that there is a list. "This is the most corrupt government in the whole country."
Corruption is happening because all benefits are going to just two to three people, Gandhi said, while noting that he spoke about Adani (following the Adani-Hindenburg issue) in Parliament. "All the businesses and industries in the country are being given to him, whether it is airports, ports, roads, are all being given to Adaniji, the same thing is happening here (in Karnataka)."
"Select few people who are BJP government's friends, all the benefits are being given to them. Because of this, there is rampant corruption in the state," he alleged.
Gandhi also urged the BJP government that it should fulfil its promise of hiking the reservation of SCs from 15 to 17 per cent and STs from 3 to 7 per cent by implementing it.
BJP's 40% Commission Sarkar wiped away jobs & opportunities.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 20, 2023
Congress’ #YuvaNidhi will empower Karnataka’s unemployed Youth
✅ ₹3000/month for Graduates
✅ ₹1500/month for Diploma holders
✅ 2.5 lakh Govt jobs in 1 year
✅ 10 lakh Pvt sector jobs
That’s a Congress Guarantee! pic.twitter.com/eNmXvIa5lr
Congress' promise to the youth of Karnataka-
— Congress (@INCIndia) March 20, 2023
🔹₹3,000/month to all the unemployed graduates for 2 Years
🔹₹1,500/month for all diploma holders for 2 Years
🔹Employment for 10 lakh youth
🔹Filling up 2.5 lakh vacant government posts within one and a half years pic.twitter.com/s5vC9YAt6X
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Shobha Karandlaje urges Governor to withhold assent to Karnataka hate speech bill
Bengaluru (PTI): Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje on Friday urged Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to withhold assent to the Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill, 2025, terming the Bill "vague, overbroad, and susceptible to misuse".
She also requested him to reserve the Bill for the consideration of President Droupadi Murmu under Article 200 of the Constitution of India, in the larger interest of constitutional governance, democratic freedoms, and the rule of law.
The bill, passed by both houses of the legislature, will be sent to the Governor for his assent.
Taking to social media 'X', the minister said, "The Karnataka Hate Speech and Hate Crimes (Prevention) Bill 2025 hands the State sweeping authority to silence opposition voices, restrain the media, and intimidate the citizens who defend Karnataka's land, language, and Dharma. This isn't a hate speech prevention bill, it's rather a bill that prevents the right to speech." "We will not let Congress turn the law into a tool to choke free speech and democratic dissent," she added.
In a letter to the governor, Karandlaje said the objective of the Bill is to address hate speech and hate crimes. However, upon careful examination, it becomes evident that the Bill, in its present form, establishes a "State-controlled mechanism" for monitoring, assessing, and penalising speech, rather than narrowly addressing expression that poses a clear and imminent threat to public order.
"The structure of the Bill enables executive authorities to determine the permissibility of expression, thereby transforming the law into a tool capable of suppressing voices critical of the government. Such an approach undermines the constitutional guarantee of democratic dissent and free expression," she said.
Citing reference of article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India that guarantees freedom of speech and expression to every citizen, she said, "The Bill departs from these constitutional limits by employing broad, vague, and subjective expressions such as "disharmony," "ill-will," and "prejudicial interest," which are not precisely defined. These terms confer excessive discretion on the Executive, enabling arbitrary and selective enforcement, which is inconsistent with constitutional safeguards."
She said the constitutional infirmities of the present Bill must be examined in light of the Supreme Court's judgment in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, (2015), wherein the Court held that any law regulating speech must be clear, narrowly tailored and free from vagueness.
The minister alleged that the Bill further authorises executive authorities and law-enforcement agencies to assess and act upon speech without adequate judicial oversight. Penal consequences are linked to executive assessment, thereby concentrating investigative and adjudicatory functions within the Executive.
"Such an arrangement erodes procedural safeguards and is inconsistent with constitutional principles governing the protection of fundamental rights," she alleged.
Karandlaje also pointed out the potential impact of the Bill on "historically marginalised" and "constitutionally protected" voices.
"The vague and expansive language of the legislation is capable of being invoked to silence Kannada language activists, women's organisations, representatives of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, backward classes, minorities, journalists, student groups, and civil society organisations that raise issues of governance, social justice, or administrative accountability," she said.
Instead of empowering vulnerable communities, according to the minister, the Bill risks becoming an instrument to deter them from articulating grievances and participating meaningfully in public discourse, thereby defeating the very constitutional promise of equality, dignity, and inclusive democracy.
The minister alleged that the cumulative effect of the Bill is likely to create a "pervasive chilling effect" on public discourse, which is incompatible with democratic governance.
Pointing out that the Bill directly impacts fundamental rights guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution, she said, "In view of the serious constitutional questions it raises, this is a fit case for the exercise of constitutional discretion under Article 200. Reserving the Bill for the consideration of the President would enable a broader constitutional examination of its implications for civil liberties and the federal constitutional balance."
