From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jan 3: Union minister and JDS leader H D Kumaraswamy strongly opposed the Congress government's decision to increase bus fares by 15%.
Criticizing the move, he stated, "Since coming to power, this government has made it a routine to burden the public, and the people are forced to bear it."
Responding to questions from the media, the Union Minister questioned the very functioning of the state government. "Is there even a government in this state? Can this really be called a government? Ever since they came to power, all they’ve done is hike prices," he said.
"The government has increased bus fares by 15%, placing a heavy burden on the people. While the public is expressing outrage, they’ve also grown accustomed to it. They protest for two days and then forget about it, adjusting to the higher fares. This is the reality," he lamented.
Criticizing the government, Kumaraswamy said, "This same Congress government imposed a cess on diesel and petrol. Did people protest? No, they adjusted to it. They increased stamp duty, guidance values, liquor prices, and now even milk prices are set to be hiked there’s talk of water tariffs going up next. The government is hiking prices across the board, yet people are not protesting because they’re preoccupied with the ‘guarantees’ promised to them. The government seems to assume that people have approved these hikes.”
"Instead of unveiling new development initiatives, the government has announced price hikes. It’s as if they are telling people to prepare for a year full of price hikes," mocked the minister.
"In previous administrations, price hikes were made only when absolutely necessary. Adjustments were also made to reduce prices when possible. But this government’s mismanagement has placed the entire burden on the people. It has taken every problem onto itself and is making the public pay the price."
Highlighting the government’s mismanagement, the JDS leader said "Wherever possible, the government is hiking prices. Let’s see what happens to the electricity department next. The department is already in a mess due to the government’s poor administration.”
They have introduced schemes like the ‘Yuvanidhi’ under their guarantees, but how much money has actually reached the youth? This government is recklessly spending public money and misusing taxpayer funds. People need to understand this," he cautioned.
"On one hand, the government is giving guarantees, and on the other, it is taking back more from the people. This has been the story since the day they came to power," he said.