‘Anna is very clever, is like Sarvajna’: Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar taunts MP Pratap Simha

SHIVAMOGGA: Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar on Sunday lashed out at Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha for his criticism of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme announced by the Congress government.

“Pratap Simha Anna is very intelligent and clever, he is like a Sarvajna. There are no politicians in the state or country who can match his intelligence, and that is why the people have made them (BJP) sit quietly. It is better he keeps quiet for some days. We knew better how to run the government, build a society and run a family. We are not going to divide any family”, she retorted.

Simha had criticised the ‘Gruha Lakshmi’ scheme, one of the five major guarantees of the Congress, saying that will divide a family. Hebbalkar hits back at him for his remarks. She was speaking to media persons on Sunday when she visited Bhadravati to see her daughter-in-law and granddaughter who was just born 10 days ago. “I could not see them as I was busy”, she said.

To a query about the implementation of the Gruha Lakshmi scheme, Hebbalkar said, “This scheme will reach everyone, our government will not divide any family. As such, nothing will happen. The forms are being distributed to everyone. The family members should decide who will be the woman head of their family”.

“About 88 per cent of people are BPL and APL card holders in the state. The Gruha Lakshmi scheme will be extended by the state government after taking these figures into account and it will take some time. Because of that, there is some delay in implementing the scheme”, she added.

On the alleged scams of the previous government, she said, “All scams during the tenure of the BJP government are being investigated by our government. This issue will be discussed in the cabinet. We came to power fighting against 40 per cent corruption. The main aim of the Congress government is to eliminate corruption and price hikes”.

She assured that the government will implement all the schemes to bring a smile on the faces of the people of the state. On whether Siddaramaiah will be CM for five years, she said, “I don’t know about this, I am not competent enough to talk about that. The High Command will take care of that matter”.

Talking about the allocation of district-in-charge to the minister, she said, “I have no disappointment as a minister. I will handle any district if the CM gives me charge”.