South

Congress’s DK Shivakumar rides a bullock cart to protest against inflation

September 13, 2021
Bharat Times

DK Shivakumar and some Congress leaders reached Vidhana Soudha on Monday in a bullock cart.

Bangalore:

Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly Siddaramaiah, state PCC president DK Shivakumar and some Congress leaders on Monday arrived at Vidhana Soudha in a bullock cart to participate in the monsoon session of the state legislature to protest against the hike in prices of essential commodities. fuel.

Facing bullock cart protests on the first day of his government’s first session after assuming power, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai hit back at the Congress party, alleging that it did nothing on the issue of hike in prices, especially fuel prices. When the UPA government was there. in power.

“They should have done this (protest) when the UPA government was in power. When the UPA was in power, fuel prices went up 100 per cent. If they had protested during the UPA government, it would have made some sense. I’m sure That they will raise it in the Assembly, I will reply there,” Mr Bommai said in response to a question on the protest.

Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar, along with G Parameshwara, MB Patil, SR Patil, Ishwar Khandre and other Congress MLAs, boarded a bullock cart from their residence here for the state assembly and secretariat Vidhana Soudha.

Accusing the central government of only lying and deceiving the people, Siddaramaiah said rising prices of essential commodities has made life difficult, and the Congress continues its protests inside and outside the assembly against the state and the Center on the issue. Will keep

He said, “They blame international prices for the rise in fuel prices. The price of a barrel of crude has come down from US$ 120 to $69. Still, a liter of petrol is Rs 106 and diesel will soon cost Rs 100. Will reach Rs.

Arguing on the loan position, he said, “They (BJP) say that the previous government had taken huge loans. The loan amount was only Rs 1.30 lakh crore, while the Center earned Rs 24 lakh crore revenue in excise duty.” done.”

Congress leaders’ bullock cart rally disrupted traffic around Vidhana Soudha in the city’s central business district, causing inconvenience to the general public and office-goers.

Cooperative minister ST Somashekar, who is stuck in a traffic jam, said, “Bullock carts are not allowed inside the city. It is just a drama which Congress is doing. They can raise the issue in the assembly instead of creating inconvenience to the citizens.” “

Health minister K Sudhakar also said that the issue could have been raised in the assembly, “but the Congress is unnecessarily harassing animals and common people by organizing bullock cart protests and causing traffic jams. They could have come by cycle.” “

The Congress, in its recent legislature party meeting, to discuss the party’s strategy during the session, had decided to corner the government on issues of price rise, deteriorating law and order situation and the state’s dire financial situation.

This is the first session of the Karnataka legislature after Basavaraj Bommai took over as the chief minister and his new cabinet took over after the ouster of BJP strongman BS Yediyurappa in the state.

On its first day, the Assembly paid tributes to 32 eminent personalities, including some former members, who died in the last six months when the House was on holiday, along with the victims of the COVID-19 second wave and floods.

Karnataka Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri said, “We have lost many senior, eminent personalities in the last six months. In 2006, the House paid tribute (reference) to 26 people simultaneously in the history of the Assembly, but this is the first Time we’re doing it for people over 32. It’s painful.”

In the honor of the departed, the House observed silence for two minutes, before adjourning the proceedings for the day.

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