Day after ‘guarantees affecting development’ comment, Congress MLA Deshpande does U-turn

Dandeli (Uttara Kannada district): A day after ‘mocking’ the guarantee schemes, veteran Congress MLA R V Deshpande softened his stance saying that he did not oppose the guarantee schemes, but hailing the pro-people governance by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

“My statements about guarantees during a meeting in Dandeli was misconstrued. I said Siddaramaiah was a true leader fighting for the poor, and giving good administration by announcing guarantees,” Deshpande said in a statement on Monday. 

“My purpose was not to speak against guarantee schemes, but to laud Siddaramaiah’s pro-people stance. I did not criticise him, but appreciated his policies. I did not say guarantees slowed down the development. My statements were misinterpreted,” Deshpande said.

Senior Congress leader, who is also the chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission, was on Sunday quoted saying that guarantees had caused financial burden affecting the pace of development in the state, and he would not have implemented them if he were the chief minister.