Bengaluru, Oct 7 (PTI) Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Wednesday accused the Congress government of putting an additional financial burden on people through a series of price hikes, including a proposed increase in bus fares and milk rates.
Ashoka said the proposed hike came soon after the state Cabinet favoured increasing the price of Nandini milk by Rs eight to Rs 10 per litre, with the final decision expected after the Legislative Council elections.
“Is the burden already borne by the people not enough,” the BJP leader said in a post on X, listing proposed and existing increases in bus fares, electricity charges, taxes on petrol and diesel, property registration charges, water and waste-management charges and Metro fares.
He alleged that the government was passing on the burden of its financial management to the people.
“On the one hand, the government is giving money to people in the name of guarantees and, on the other, it is taking back twice as much from their pockets through taxes and price hikes,” he charged
Ashoka alleged that the proposed bus fare increase of 10 to 13 per cent across state transport corporations, including the BMTC, would affect workers, students, employees and middle-class families who depend on public transport.
“From families buying milk to workers, students, employees and middle-class households relying on buses every day, this price rise will directly affect people’s lives,” he said.
He also questioned Chief Minister D K Shivakumar over the government’s financial management.
“Why should the people of Karnataka have to pay for the Congress government’s failure in financial management,” Ashoka asked.
The Cabinet on Tuesday favoured increasing Nandini milk prices by Rs eight to Rs 10 per litre, with the final decision likely after the October 23 Legislative Council elections due to the Model Code of Conduct.
Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) had sought a Rs 10 per litre hike, with ministers saying the increase would improve returns to dairy farmers. PTI GMS SA
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