Kumaraswamy Apologizes for Remarks on Rural Women, Cites Misrepresentation by Congress
In a recent statement, former Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy issued an apology for his comments which were perceived as demeaning towards rural women, claiming his words were misrepresented by the Congress. During a press conference, Kumaraswamy clarified that he did not intend to insult or hurt any women. His remarks were originally made in the context of criticizing the Congress government’s Gruha Lakshmi scheme, which he argued only offered Rs 2,000 to women after taking much more from their families.
The controversy started when Kumaraswamy, while campaigning for the BJP in Karnataka, commented on the government’s guarantee schemes, suggesting they had misled rural women. This sparked a series of protests by the Mahila Congress and was met with severe criticism from various Congress leaders including Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, who condemned Kumaraswamy’s statements as reflective of a disrespectful attitude towards women.
In retaliation, Kumaraswamy pointed to recent inappropriate comments made by Congress leaders about other political figures, questioning the party’s consistency in maintaining dignity in political discourse. The exchange underscores the heightened tensions between the two parties as they prepare for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, with Kumaraswamy contesting as the National Democratic Alliance candidate in Mandya.
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