‘Continue Jan Akrosh Yatra against Central government’: DK Shivakumar tells BJP protesters

BENGALURU: Following Bharatiya Janata Party’s announcement of carrying out a ‘Jan Akrosh Yatra’ against price hikes in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar took a jibe at the BJP leaders on Tuesday, telling them to protest against their own party, holding the Central government responsible for “price hikes” of petrol, diesel and gas.

“Namaskar to all my BJP friends. You all are doing ‘Jan Akrosh Yatra’. I congratulate all of you. But at the same time, Government of India, your BJP Government has hiked the price of petrol, diesel and gas. So, your ‘Jan Akrosh Yatra’ should go on with BJP, it is your party,” Dy CM Shivakumar said in a video released by his office.

Wishing the BJP the best, he urged them to continue their protest against their own party to “solve their problems.”

Earlier on Monday, Karnataka BJP had announced the ‘Jan Akrosh Yatra’ in Mangaluru against the state’s price hikes and imposition of new taxes.

Earlier on April 3, MLA and BJP leader R Ashoka launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led Karnataka government for its price hikes, stating, “BJP is fighting against the government’s price hike policies and will take it to a logical conclusion.”

Accusing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of corruption too, he added, “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is stealing through taxes, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is stealing through commissions.”

The BJP leader also criticized the rise in liquor prices, calling it another way to exploit the public. “The price of liquor has also been raised to extract money from alcohol lovers.”

Earlier on Monday, the Central government had announced LPG price increase to enable oil marketing companies to offset their under-recoveries, according to Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri. He further reiterated the government’s commitment to providing affordable LPG cylinders to consumers, despite a significant rise in international LPG prices.

Under the updated pricing structure, a 14.2 kg LPG cylinder, which now costs Rs 1028, will be made available to Ujjwala beneficiaries at a subsidised rate of Rs 553, which is Rs 475 less than the market price. Regular consumers will benefit from a Rs 175 reduction, bringing the price of the cylinder down to Rs 853.

Puri explained that this price hike was necessary to help oil marketing companies (OMCs) recover the financial losses caused by previous subsidised prices, which have been significantly lower than international market rates. (ANI)