‘Karnataka’s Congress govt is searching ways to tax common people’: BJP MP K Sudhakar on garbage cess

NEW DELHI: BJP MP K Sudhakar on Tuesday slammed the Karnataka Congress government over the “garbage cess” and accused it of seeking ways to tax the common people.

Sudhakar pointed out that the government one side, is boasting about a massive annual budget of Rs 4 lakh crores, while presenting revenue deficit budgets from the past 2-3 years.

BJP MP K Sudhakar said, “Karnataka’s Congress government is searching every day in what way they can tax the common people…They say that the annual budget has touched the mark of Rs 4 lakh crores but in the last 2-3 years, they have been presenting revenue deficit budgets…”

The BJP MP further criticized the government’s recent decisions, including the fourth increase in milk prices within 7-8 months, hikes in power tariffs, and the introduction of a garbage cess.

He further said, “On the other side, they have increased the price of milk for the 4th time in the last 7-8 months. They have raised power tariffs…And today, it is very surprising; they are additionally levying the garbage cess on middle-class people and poor people…”

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi also slammed the Siddaramiah government claiming that it had gone bankrupt.

“The Karnataka government has become garbage for the nation. The state government has gone pauper, bankrupt. Today, there is so much inflation in Karnataka, and now this ‘Garbage tax’. I condemn it,” he said.

Earlier today, Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy expressed outrage over the implementation of garbage cess in Bengaluru by the Congress-led Karnataka government, stating that the “price hike demon” government in Karnataka is draining the blood of the people like leeches.

In a press statement, he said, “From today, the Congress Company government is imposing a cess even on garbage! It is draining the blood of the people!”

Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra launched a blistering attack on the Congress-led Karnataka government over the issue of price hike, saying that the government is taxing everything as if it ran out of money to fulfil the guarantees they had promised.

Speaking to reporters, the BJP leader said, “They are taxing on everything as they’re failing to fulfill the amount for guarantees. State government gives in the name of guarantee in one hand and in other all ways its looting the people, we are protesting against it.

The Karnataka BJP is staging a series of protests against the Congress government in Karnataka over the price rise.

Vijayendra further called Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the state government “arrogant”, adding that it is opposition’s responsibility to create awareness among people.

He said, “BJP is carrying out massive protest against ruling Congress government on April 2. All our MLAs, MLCs, former MLAs, we are protesting against the price hike at Freedom Park in Bengaluru. In second phase, on April 7 onwards, entire BJP team, all our MLAs, MPs, Central Ministers, we have already planned and announced Jana Aakrosh Yatra. This yatra will start from April 7 from Mysuru. Minister Pralhad Joshi will inaugurate this yatra. We will protest against the 4 per cent reservation for Muslim in government contracts. This government and CM is very arrogant. They believe if they have majority they can do anything, but, today people are cursing Siddaramaiah and the government, so it is responsibility of opposition BJP to take up this issue and create awareness among people.”

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has implemented a “garbage cess” under which the residents of Bengaluru will have to pay a solid waste management user fee effective from April 1.

After hike in the rate of milk, electricity, BBMP has now decided to enforce a new tax. The BBMP has decided to raise the cost of garbage and disposal every month and a “garbage cess” is being implemented in Bangalore starting from today.

The solid waste management company will now make a cess on trash every month. Different types of tax are being levied for shops, hotels, and residential buildings. (ANI)