Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 23: Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Pakistan over the recent Pahalgam terror strike, stating that the neighbouring country must ‘pay the price’ for the massacre of innocent civilians and tourists in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing a public meeting during the BJP’s Janakrosh Yatra, Vijayendra declared, “We are all Hindus first, not divided by caste. Pakistan must pay for these killings. We are confident Prime Minister Narendra Modi will act firmly against the perpetrators.”

He also credited the Modi government for abrogating Article 370, calling it a historic move that ended the humiliation of Kashmiri Pandits and helped restore national unity.

“PM Modi rushed back from Saudi Arabia the moment he heard of the Pahalgam attack. Union Minister Amit Shah has taken charge of the situation,” he added.

Vijayendra announced that Thursday’s leg of the Janakrosh Yatra in Ballari and Vijayanagara districts stands cancelled. He will instead attend the funeral of Bharath Bhushan, a Bengaluru resident killed in the attack.

Turning his criticism towards the Karnataka Congress government, Vijayendra accused CM Siddaramaiah of failing to curb inflation and misleading people with hollow guarantees. “There is a hidden sixth guarantee a guarantee of price hikes,” he said, pointing to rising costs of milk, petrol, diesel, and medical tests.

He alleged that under Congress rule, rural farmers now pay Rs 2.5 to 3 lac for electricity connections, compared to Rs 25,000 during the BJP’s tenure. He also claimed that the Congress government had withdrawn the additional Rs 4,000 support under the PM-Kisan Samman scheme.

Vijayendra further accused the Congress of dividing communities for political gains and failing to initiate any major development projects in its tenure so far.

The meeting saw attendance from senior BJP leaders, including Opposition Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, former minister B Sriramulu, council chief Whip N Ravikumar, and several district functionaries.