Daijiworld Media Network - Karwar
Karwar, April 11: The Karnataka BJP’s ‘Janakrosh Yatra’, launched in protest against the Congress-led state government over issues including rising prices and the introduction of reservations for Muslims in public work tenders, entered its fifth day on Friday.
During a public meeting held in Yellapur town, Karwar district, senior BJP leaders strongly criticised the Siddaramaiah government, alleging that BJP workers were being unfairly targeted across the state.
Speaking at the rally, Member of Parliament Kota Srinivas Poojary claimed, “BJP workers were allegedly beaten just because a senior police official of the rank of Inspector General was arriving in the coastal Karnataka region. When questioned, FIRs were reportedly filed against 40 BJP workers. What kind of state is this?”
Poojary reminded the police department that it was the BJP that had taken to the streets in support of nearly one lakh police personnel when they were being treated unfairly.
He launched a scathing attack on the Congress administration, stating, “This government is administratively dead – it is no longer alive.” He further alleged that law and order had completely collapsed under the current regime.
Referring to the murder case of Hindu activist Praveen Kumar Nettaru, Poojary remarked, “When the accused was brought to court in the presence of police, someone kissed him on the forehead. What is this government doing? What is the Home Department doing?”
He questioned the silence of the police in such matters and highlighted the recent incident in the Udayagiri locality of Mysuru, where a police station was set on fire. “Where is the law and order?” he asked.
Poojary also criticised the government for allegedly being soft on terror-related issues, saying, “How can a government tasked with preventing terrorists from entering the state with bombs hidden in pressure cookers tolerate senior ministers referring to such terrorists as ‘our brothers’? If such a situation is allowed to prevail, where is the law and order?”
BJP State president and MLA B Y Vijayendra, addressing the same gathering, said that it was not the BJP but the Congress party’s own MLA and Chief Minister’s Economic Advisor, Basavaraj Rayareddy, who had labelled the state government as corrupt.
Appreciating the large turnout, Vijayendra stated that the BJP launched the Janakrosh Yatra to raise public awareness about the Congress government’s price hikes and corruption.
He accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of introducing a 4% reservation for Muslims in government contracts as part of a vote-bank strategy. “This is nothing but appeasement politics that insults Hindus,” he said.
Vijayendra further alleged that Rs 38,000 crore earmarked under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) and the Tribal Sub Plan (TSP), intended for the development of Dalits and tribal communities, had been diverted for other purposes, where corruption was also taking place. He claimed that this diversion of funds was sparking public outrage.
He stated that the Siddaramaiah government was responsible for the highest number of price hikes seen in the last 20 months. “Instead of prioritising development, the Chief Minister has set up an expert committee to recommend further price increases on essential commodities,” Vijayendra alleged.
He said the Congress was misleading people under the guise of “guarantees” while having increased the prices of more than 50 essential goods in under two years.
Vijayendra also criticised the chief minister for making symbolic gestures like walking to the Krishna River ahead of elections but failing to allocate even a rupee for irrigation projects after coming to power.
He similarly took aim at Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar for leading the Mekedatu padayatra (protest march) before the elections and subsequently neglecting the project.
He pointed out that diesel prices had increased by Rs 7.50 under the Congress government, which had significantly impacted the cost of daily-use items. “Farmers, who rely on diesel for their tractors and machinery, are especially suffering,” he said.
Vijayendra also criticised the state’s “Shakti” scheme for free bus travel for women, claiming that the government owes Rs 6,500 crore to the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC). He said this had caused thousands of buses in rural areas to stop operating, leaving students without access to schools and colleges.
He concluded by calling attention to the Rs 9 hike in milk prices, stating, “Poor families are now unable to provide nutritious food for their children. The Congress government gives with one hand and takes away with the other.”