Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders have announced plans to ‘gherao’ the Chief Minister’s official residence in Bengaluru at 11 AM, protesting against rising prices across multiple sectors in the state.
BJP MLA SR Vishwanath criticized the Karnataka government, alleging that Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had even announced an increase in water prices.
“We have been protesting against price hikes since yesterday. Despite this, DK Shivakumar has declared a hike in water prices as well. The people must take a stand against rising prices and corruption. Soon, citizens will take to the streets in protest, forcing the government to realize their wrongdoing,” Vishwanath told ANI.
The BJP continues to express strong opposition to the Karnataka government over price hikes in essential commodities and services. The party staged an overnight protest at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park, continuing their demonstration into the morning.
BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy accused the Congress government of increasing prices while relying on their earlier election promises to remain in power.
“The Congress government is hiking prices of all essentials. They want to run the state for five years based on the five guarantees they offered. Some ministers have irresponsibly tried to shift the blame for rising diesel prices onto the central government. Only incapable ministers make such statements,” Narayanaswamy, the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council, said.
On Wednesday, Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra attacked the state government, stating that a price hike was the only guarantee the Congress administration had fulfilled.
“The BJP’s day-and-night protest is against inflation. The government’s only implemented guarantee is price hikes, which are burdening the common man. As a responsible opposition party, we demand that the Congress government withdraw these decisions. Otherwise, the people will come out in protest and will not allow the government to function,” Vijayendra stated.
As part of their protest, BJP leaders have urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to leave his “air-conditioned office” and personally assess the struggles of the people across Karnataka. Vijayendra suggested that the CM, along with Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, should tour villages to witness the economic difficulties firsthand.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders, led by LoP Narayanaswamy, also staged a protest outside the Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday against the suspension of 18 party MLAs from the state assembly. The suspension, imposed for six months amid the ongoing ‘honey-trap’ controversy, has been strongly condemned by the opposition.
Reacting to the suspension, Vijayendra said, “Eighteen BJP MLAs were suspended under unprecedented and unfair conditions while they were protesting peacefully in the assembly. This is unacceptable. We respect the Speaker’s chair, but the Speaker must not act unconstitutionally or as an agent of the ruling party.”
The BJP has vowed to continue its agitation against the state government’s policies, intensifying its demand for relief from rising prices and alleged governance failures.