MANDVA/BENGALURU: Congress launched a scathing attack on Karnataka JD(S) president HD Kumaraswamy who said during a roadshow at Tumakuru on Saturday that rural women are "losing their way" because of govt's guarantee schemes. The former CM had to make a hasty retreat after protests against the remark.
Kumaraswamy said, "This govt (state) in the last election announced five guarantees (because of which) our mothers in villages have lost their way. One should think about what will happen to their livelihoods and that of their families."
Vehemently condemning the remark, women Congress workers in Mandya raised slogans and held placards urging Kumaraswamy, who is also NDA candidate for Mandya Lok Sabha seat, to "go back".
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, who was campaigning in Madikeri, Kodagu district, said the remarks "showed Kumaraswamy's mindset" and his feelings for women. He said, "Being a two-time CM, if he speaks about women in such a way, will people tolerate it?"
In his clarification, Kumaraswamy said he was only "cautioning" women about their "innocence being misused" by Congress in the name of guarantee schemes.