BENGALURU, June 15 -- Karnataka chief minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday dismissed speculation over two of the government's flagship welfare programmes, asserting that Gruha Lakshmi and Gruha Jyothi would continue without interruption. His announcement came a day after a fresh verification exercise triggered concerns among beneficiaries and criticism from the opposition.

"Gruha Lakshmi and Gruha Jyothi are the pride of the Congress government. They will not be stopped under any circumstances. The public should not listen to the false news being spread by Opposition parties in this regard," Shivakumar said in a statement issued on Sunday.

He said beneficiaries were being asked to submit fresh applications only to verify their names, addre...