Karvar, 13 Oct 

Veteran Congress MLA and former minister RV Deshpande said that the five guarantee schemes have made State buses “women-only”. Speaking at an event in Dandeli in Uttara Kannada district, the Haliyal MLA added that the schemes are a financial burden on the State. 

He said that the schemes were beneficial to women, but offered nothing for men. 

"The Siddaramaiah government gave five guarantees. Rs 2,000 every month to women—it’s a lottery for them. The situation of men has worsened. If men speak much, they will be punished," Deshpande claimed. "

On the Shakti scheme, which offers free bus travel for Karnataka women on non-luxury state buses, the 78-year-old leader said, “Buses, oh my God! Women have left for Dharwad, Belagavi, Kalaburagi and Yellamma temple. Women are all over these places. If men board the bus by mistake, then his body will fall. These are all-women’s buses. These are the programmes of Siddaramaiah," he said.

"God knows who advised Siddaramaiah. If I were the Chief Minister, I would not have implemented it," the eight-time MLA said.

He also spoke about the Anna Bhagya scheme, which provides free rice, saying, "Let women take it and enjoy."