File photo of former Chief Minister of the state B S Yeddyurappa, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka
Credit: DH Photo
Bengaluru: Taking a strong exception to the state government hiking the fuel prices, Karnataka BJP announced that it will hold statewide protests on Monday, former deputy chief minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan said.
He was addressing a press conference in the city on Sunday. In Bengaluru, the protest will be staged under the joint leadership of BJP state president B Y Vijayendra and Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka at the Freedom Park. After the protest, the party leaders and workers will gherao chief minister’s residence.
Narayan said that the party had decided to continue its protests till the state government rolls back the fuel price hike.
Ever since the Congress came to power in Karnataka 13 months ago, it has been busy focusing on finding newer ways to burden the common man in the state, Ashwath Narayan said.
“Soon after they came to power, the Congress increased prices of milk and liquor, engineering and medical course fees, electricity and vehicle registration charges and stamp duties by 200% to 300%. Now, they have increased fuel prices too,” Narayan added.
"This is nothing but a deceptive way of taking money from common voters who were made to believe that by voting to Congress the party would give them a reprieve from price rise. On the contrary, they are now blaming themselves for voting for Congress,” Narayan added.
He said that the petrol prices in the BJP-ruled states were far lower than those in Congress-led I.N.D.I.A. bloc-run states in the country.
Speaking to reporters, Ashwath Narayan said petrol costs Rs 94.54 per litre in BJP-ruled state Haryana, Rs 94.55 in Uttar Pradesh, Rs 94.50 in Gujarat, Rs 93.82 in Uttarakhand and Rs 97 in Assam. He said that in the Congress-ruled states like Karnataka, the petrol price is Rs 103.44 per litre and Rs 109.50 in Telangana while it is Rs 107 in West Bengal and Rs 105.68 in Kerala.
“The numbers speak for themselves, which party is more citizen-centric and trying hard to control inflation. Petrol is the most commonly used fuel. By deciding to increase fuel price, the CM has hit hard on the poor and the common man in the state,” he said.
Ashwath Narayan further alleged that the industrial growth has come to a standstill as the government was not in a position to provide land and water to investors. “The state’s industrial bigwigs, including real estate giants, are leaving the state due high rate of corruption and inflation,” he added.