BJP holds state-wide protest in Karnataka over hike in petrol and diesel prices

BENAGLURU: The Karnataka BJP held a "Cycle Jatha" protest in Bengaluru on Thursday as part of its state-wide opposition against the Congress government's recent decision to hike petrol and diesel prices.
Led by state President B Y Vijayendra, the protest saw BJP workers and leaders riding bicycles from the party's state office 'Jagannath Bhavan' to 'Vidhana Soudha'.


The police, however, detained Vijayendra and other protesters mid-way, and they were whisked away in a bus.
The protest came in response to the state government’s action last week to increase the sales tax on fuel, raising petrol prices by Rs 3 per litre and diesel by Rs 3.5 per litre.
Former deputy chief minister C N Ashwathnarayan and MLC C T Ravi were among the leaders present, voicing strong opposition by shouting slogans against the fuel price hike.
Vijayendra, addressing reporters, explained the broader protest strategy, mentioning that the BJP is staging demonstrations across all districts and taluk centers by blocking roads to urge chief minister Siddaramaiah to roll back the price hike decision.
"In Bengaluru by organising Cycle Jatha, the party has tried to warn the state government, but this adamant government is not even thinking about rolling back the price hike. The Chief Minister is citing higher prices in neighboring states, but our state is in distress, farmers are in distress due to drought, in such a situation the decision to put more burden on the common man is an unpardonable sin," he said.
"I urge the Chief Minister to rollback the hike immediately and no decision should be taken that causes burden to farmers and common man," Vijayendra continued. He pointed out that ministers have hinted at future increases in bus fares and water tariffs in Bengaluru. "This government has become a curse to the people of the state."
Vijayendra responded to Home Minister G Parameshwara's reported indirect warning to the BJP, where Parameshwara suggested that the police might use force to disperse protesters causing public inconvenience.
"BJP and its workers will not fear for lathis and will raise their voice for the sake of people and farmers of the state. The Home Minister is speaking out of arrogance of power, we will not fear such things, our fight will continue until the government withdraws its decision," he said.
Similar protests were conducted in other parts of the state, including Belagavi, Mysuru, Mandya, Shivamogga, Hubballi, and Haveri. Former Chief Ministers and current MPs Jagadish Shettar and Basavaraj Bommai also participated in protests in Belagavi and Davangere, respectively.
The protests underline the BJP’s contention that the government's tax hike on fuel is especially burdensome given the current economic distress faced by the state's residents, including farmers struggling with drought conditions.