‘Anti-Hindu mindset’: BJP’s Poonawalla slams Karnataka govt over state bus fare hike ahead of Dasara festival

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Tuesday lashed out at the Siddaramaiah government over the fare hike for Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses ahead of the upcoming Dasara festival. He accused the state government of possessing an “anti-Hindu mindset”.

“The Congress government in Karnataka is a ‘Khata khat loot and jhooth’ government. It only taxes and increases prices. It has an anti-Hindu mindset. At the time of the Dasara festival, when the Bengaluru-Mysuru route is used the most by Hindus, they are raising KSRTC bus fares. This shows how they want to loot the common people and those celebrating Dasara, and then they use it to fill their own pockets, and money is stolen through various scams and sent to 10, Janpath”, Poonawalla said.

#WATCH | Delhi | BJP National Spokesperson, Shehzad Poonawalla says, “The Congress govt in Karnataka is a ‘Khata khat loot and jhooth’ govt. It only taxes and increases prices. It has an anti-Hindu mindset. At the time of the Dasara festival, when the Bengaluru-Mysuru route is… pic.twitter.com/ZgJ7Q7AhzD

— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2025

Speaking on the tragic death of a college girl in Bengaluru after hitting a pothole, Poonawalla lashed out at Congress, saying that Karnataka was devoid of ‘good infrastructure’ while calling the ruling party in the state a “pothole in governance and corruption”. He said that the girl lost her life while avoiding a pothole, after which a truck ran over her.

“It is not ‘Mohabaat ki Dukan’ but ‘Maut ka samaan and maut ki dukaan’ by the Congress party. They have raised the prices, and in return, Karnataka has not received good infrastructure. All they have given is pothole-filled roads. It is a shocking incident where a girl lost her life while avoiding a pothole, and a truck ran over her. When the government is asked about potholes, DK Shivakumar says, ‘Even God can’t fix potholes’. The Karnataka Congress is a pothole in governance and corruption”, the BJP leader said.

Dhanashree was on her way to college when the accident occurred.

Amid the backlash faced by Congress in Karnataka over the death of a 22-year-old student after a tipper truck crushed her while trying to avoid a pothole near Budigere Cross in Bengaluru, Janata Dal (Secular) on Tuesday in a strongly worded post said that the student was ‘sacrificed’ for Congress’ Commission. In a post on social media X, the JDS stated, “Student Sacrificed for Congress’ Commission!”

The accident occurred under the jurisdiction of Avalahalli traffic police station on Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL) Road. The victim has been identified as Dhanushree. The driver of the tipper truck fled the spot. He has been identified and will be arrested immediately, the police said.

There has been growing criticism against the state government over the potholes on roads in Bengaluru. While the ministers say that the issue was blown out of proportion and blame the previous BJP government for the situation, the Opposition parties target the Congress government for its “administrative failures”.(ANI)