Daijiworld Media Network - Mandya

Mandya, Apr 8: The Janakrosh Yatra, organised by the Karnataka BJP unit, continued to draw public attention as it entered its second day on Tuesday. The protest march, held in Mandya city, witnessed the participation of thousands of BJP workers and leaders who raised strong slogans against the state government over price hikes and alleged appeasement politics.

Protest rallies were also simultaneously carried out in Indi and Ilkal towns of north Karnataka, intensifying the party’s state-wide campaign.

Addressing the gathering in Mandya, Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka accused the Congress government of favouring a particular community. “Under this government, Muslims are granted financial aid for weddings and given preference in government contracts, while Hindus receive nothing. BJP stands for equal share and equal opportunity for all,” he said.

He criticised deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar for preventing people from hoisting the Hanuman flag in Mandya, questioning his claims of being a devout Hindu. Ashoka also accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of encroaching on 14 Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) sites, which were returned only after BJP intervention.

Highlighting the Valmiki Development Corporation issue, he said BJP's sustained pressure led to the resignation of a minister. On the Mekedatu project, he alleged that despite tall claims, no progress has been made due to the Dy CM's “soft stand” on Tamil Nadu’s interests.

Ashoka further charged that the Modi government had sanctioned funds for establishing a university in Mandya, but the project was shelved due to misuse of funds by the state government.

Former minister and BJP MLC C T Ravi also addressed the gathering and said the protest was against the Congress government’s anti-people policies, corruption and continued price hikes. Responding to CM Siddaramaiah’s remarks on LPG prices, Ravi said, “A cylinder that cost Rs 1,113 a year ago is now cheaper by Rs 250 overall, thanks to successive reductions by the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, this state government is raising fuel prices once again.”

He slammed the government for increasing petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2, after an earlier hike of Rs 3.93 per litre. “While the Prime Minister works to ease the burden on the common man, this government is doing the opposite,” he remarked.

Former minister B Sriramulu accused the CM of taking loans up to Rs 2 lac cr, adding that BJP will intensify its campaign by reaching out to taluks and villages.

Speaking in Ilkal, former MP and BJP leader Sumalatha Ambareesh said, “For two years all we heard was ‘free, free, free’. Now, schemes like Gruha Lakshmi and other Bhagyas are slowly being forgotten. It’s an unfortunate and pitiable situation.”

She said that not just the poor and middle class, but even the upper-middle class is struggling to manage day-to-day expenses under the present government.