'Will beg, borrow,' says DK Shivakumar as BJP, Karnataka Congress spar over free shoes, socks to govt students
India Today
Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar said he would “beg, borrow,” to provide shoes, socks and uniforms to government school students. This comes after education minister BC Nagesh said children went to government school for education and not shoes or socks.
Amid a flurry of comments over providing shoes, socks and uniforms to students in government schools, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Chief DK Shivakumar on Friday, July 8, said he would "beg, borrow" in order to provide amenities that have been deprived to the students of the entire state.
"If the government doesn’t have money, I will walk on the streets of Karnataka. I will beg, borrow and give shoes and socks to the students of the entire state," Shivakumar said.
"If the government doesn’t have money, I’m there and the people of Karnataka are there. There are various organisations. In Congress, we have given 2 per cent for CSR. We’ll collect and donate," he added.
The KPCC chief's comments come in response to Karnataka education minister BC Nagesh's statement that children should go to schools "to get education, and not for shoes and socks."
The BJP leader and minister made these remarks in Kalaburagi, while responding to questions by the media on the delay in providing shoes and socks to children in government schools across the state.
"Our first importance is for children to come to school for education...Siddaramaiah talks about shoes and socks. Do kids come to school for education or for shoes and socks?" Nagesh said.
Nagesh's remarks attracted sharp criticism from opposition leader, Siddaramaiah, who, in a series of tweets, slammed the education minister's comments as "inhumane and deplorable."
