‘This is a democracy, not a kingdom’: BJP’s R Ashoka slams CM over GBA’s new cleaning charges

BENGALURU: Opposition leader R Ashoka on Tuesday slammed the state government and Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over the Greater Bengaluru Authority’s (GBA) decision to impose additional cleaning and solid waste management charges on citizens.

Terming the move illegal and an attempt to “loot Bengaluru,” Ashoka emphasised that residents are already burdened with standard municipal and property taxes, making recurring or extra fees an unjustified burden. He asserted that governance cannot be run like an autocratic rule, urging the government to prioritise basic civic infrastructure over imposing fresh financial penalties on taxpayers.

“Citizens are already paying regular taxes; imposing another cleaning charge on top of that is illegal. They are looting Bengaluru by introducing an additional tax every month. We will fight this issue in the Assembly. This is a democracy, not a kingdom. DK Shivakumar needs to understand that,” said R Ashoka.

The controversy erupted after the newly constituted Greater Bengaluru Authority issued a circular mandating clean-up fees and steep penalties on vacant plot owners under the “Freedom from Waste” campaign. If private landowners fail to clear vegetation, garbage, or debris by mid-August, civic authorities plan to clear the sites themselves and attach the heavy costs — ranging from thousands to over Rs 1 lakh — directly to property tax bills.

FREEDOM FROM WASTE CAMPAIGN | KEEP YOUR VACANT SITE CLEAN

As part of the “Freedom from Waste” Campaign – August 2026, the Greater Bengaluru Authority is taking steps to keep Bengaluru clean, beautiful and livable.

MANDATORY RESPONSIBILITY OF VACANT SITE OWNERS

As per Bye-law… pic.twitter.com/vpDWJEigMS

— Greater Bengaluru Authority (@GBA_office) August 10, 2026

Ashoka argued that adding monthly levies or recovering excessive maintenance charges amounts to double taxation. He warned that the opposition will aggressively corner the Congress administration on the floor of the Legislative Assembly.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already launched the Swachh Bharat programme earlier. Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, who has been making reels, is now imposing taxes for cleanliness,” said the BJP leader. He further alleged that waste management was already covered under existing taxes and questioned the need for additional charges in the name of cleanliness. “In Bengaluru, no development is being done; only taxes are being collected from people,” he said.

He also questioned the government’s claims regarding the removal of cars parked on roadsides, saying that more than one lakh such vehicles were present in the city. He alleged that pedestrian paths were cleared in the morning but street vendors returned by evening.

He also alleged that there was not a single garbage-free road in Bengaluru and claimed that pensions had not been paid to 20 lakh beneficiaries for the past five months. “When there is no money, they are looting money from the people themselves,” Ashoka said.

He further raised the issue of potholes on Bengaluru’s roads, claiming that a seven-kilometre stretch had 300 potholes. Ashoka said the authorities should first repair the roads and provide basic civic amenities before imposing additional taxes on residents.

He said property tax was already being collected and questioned the decision to impose another charge. Ashoka also alleged that the garbage fee for flats had recently been increased from Rs 40 to Rs 400 and said a new tender had been floated.

“This is daylight robbery being committed by the government itself. When the BBMP elections come, the people will give the verdict of ‘freedom from Congress’,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar recently launched a “Freedom from Waste” campaign in Bengaluru, asserting that it is the responsibility of the citizens to keep the city clean as it belongs to them. In a post on X, Shivakumar said that the campaign was launched by Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda near the statue of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda near the Hebbal flyover.

“‘Freedom from Waste’ campaign for a clean city from today. Under this campaign, it has been decided to clear a total of 22,372 tonnes of waste, including construction waste, solid waste, old electric poles, pipes, earthen mounds, overgrown weeds and tree branches,” he said. (ANI)