Bengaluru, Apr 28 (UNI) Accusing the BJP-led Union government of being responsible for the rising prices of essential commodities, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday said the state unit of the BJP should direct its 'Janakrosha Yatra' against the dispensation at the Centre.
Speaking at a rally organised here to protest against price rise, Shivakumar said, "We are taking out this rally to protect the people from the incessant price rise. We introduced the guarantee schemes to lower the burden of price rise on the common people. Ironically, the BJP government at the Centre raised the prices of petrol and diesel the very day the state BJP launched its protest against the state government."
Alleging that the BJP is "exposing its anti-farmer mindset" by opposing the hike in milk prices, he said the increase directly benefits farmers.
"When our Chief Minister earmarked Rs 52,000 crore for the guarantee schemes, the BJP alleged that our government would go bankrupt. However, we have not only successfully rolled out the schemes but are also investing heavily in development works. You blessed us in the last election, and we are committed to repaying that debt. Power is temporary, performance is permanent," Shivakumar said.
Charging the BJP with indulging in "politics of emotion" while the Congress government focused on the "politics of livelihood," he said the people must question the BJP over its failure to control inflation.
Expressing grief over the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, he announced that the Karnataka government had decided to provide an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the families of victims from the state.
Interacting with the media, Shivakumar warned the BJP against "disrupting" Congress events, alleging that BJP workers had "conspired" to show black flags during the protest rally.
“If the BJP continues such activities, we will not allow it to conduct any of its programmes in the state. I urge BJP leaders to rein in their workers, or else we are ready to launch a counter agitation," he said. UNI BDN SSP