Karnataka Government Defends Fuel Price Hike as Necessary for State Development

The Karnataka government is facing backlash following its decision to raise the prices of petrol and diesel in the state. State Minister for Commerce and Industries, MB Patil, has come out to justify the increase, stating that the additional funds generated from the fuel hike will be directed towards supporting the state’s guarantee schemes and development initiatives.

Patil stressed that while fuel rates have indeed gone up in Karnataka, they still remain relatively lower than the prices in other states, providing some context to the move.

Effective immediately, the prices of petrol and diesel in Bengaluru have surged following the state government’s decision. Petrol prices now stand at Rs 102.84 per litre with a Rs 3 increase, while diesel prices have risen by Rs 3.02 to hit Rs 88.95 per litre.

The opposition BJP in Karnataka has announced plans to stage a protest against the petrol price hike this coming Monday.

Shehzad Poonawalla from the BJP criticised the Congress government’s move, labeling it the ‘Khatakhat’ (looting) model in Karnataka. He accused the ruling party of burdening the common people with increased prices, especially after the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Responding to the fuel price increase, Tejasvi Surya of the BJP expressed discontent with the Congress government, highlighting a series of financial hikes and alleged fraud across various sectors in Karnataka.

Notable leaders like BY Vijayendra, Jagadish Shettar, and S Prakash from the BJP have strongly criticized the decision to raise fuel prices in Karnataka, attributing it to the state’s financial instability and lack of effective governance.

As the state braces for potential protests against the fuel price hike, the political landscape in Karnataka appears to be heating up, with both the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP engaging in a war of words over the issue.