‘Congress govt has forgotten road development, can send data of potholes for Guinness world record’: LoP R Ashoka

BENGALURU: The Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka slammed the Congress government and said that the state government had forgotten about road development.

Speaking at a press conference, he said that around twelve people have died due to potholes, which have become death traps.

“Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar goes around the city wearing cooling glasses, so he doesn’t see the potholes. People are saying they won’t pay taxes and will fill the potholes themselves. If the government tells us how many potholes there are in the roads across the entire state, including Bengaluru, we can send it for a Guinness record,” he mocked.

He further said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a meeting and instructed to do one layer of asphalting.

“This requires 4-5 thousand crore rupees. Librarians and anganwadi workers haven’t even received their salaries. So where is this much money? BBMP doesn’t exist, so tenders for road asphalting aren’t happening. Therefore, we will cancel the Greater Bengaluru Authority in the future,” he said.

R Ashoka said that five to six acres will be acquired in Lalbagh, which is like the lungs of the city, to build a tunnel road.

“A tunnel should not be dug in such a park that provides greenery to the city. This project will affect groundwater. Kempegowda Tower is in Lalbagh, and the government might even break it down. The government needs to see what scientists and environmentalists have said. The Ettinahole project hasn’t been implemented yet. The tunnel road project will also end up the same way. No matter how much funding is increased, this project cannot be implemented. The metro project can be expanded with the same money. D K Shivakumar should not become the villain of Bengaluru by doing this project. BJP MLAs will fight against this,” he said.

He alleged that the compensation for crop damage due to rain hasn’t been given yet. “Additionally, the government should have purchased crops like soybean, sunflower, urad, and horse gram. The government should take immediate action on this. They should also immediately purchase onions, whose prices have fallen,” he demanded.

He said that even though six months have passed in the 2025-26 financial year, only 30 per cent of the funds have been utilised.

“Minister Priyank Kharge, who criticises RSS, has the worst performance in his department. In the RDPR department, only 11.02 per cent, and in the IT-BT department, only 10.86 per cent of funds have been used. In the revenue department, 46 percent, animal husbandry 44 percent, rural development 11 percent–like this, funds haven’t been utilised in all departments,” he criticised.

“When I said there would be a revolution in November, they criticised me. Now Congress leaders themselves are saying it. CM change is certain,” he said. (ANI)