R. Ashok Slams Congress Government’s Loot Agenda

In a scathing attack on the ruling Congress government, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar are indulging in large-scale corruption under the guise of development.

These so-called saints are extracting wealth from waste, he remarked sarcastically during a press conference held at the BJP office, referring to the recent threefold hike in the garbage cess imposed by BBMP. Highlighting the irrationality of the cess, Ashok pointed out that even vacant plots where no garbage is generated are being taxed under the BBMP’s garbage cess system. There may be no garbage on these sites, but the cess surely falls, he mocked, calling the move yet another form of exploitation by the government. Ashok accused the Congress party of continuing its six-decade-old tradition of corruption, price hikes, and financial mismanagement.

This government has made it a routine to increase prices every single month. From burdening farmers to appeasing vote banks, misusing SC/ST welfare funds, and unchecked corruption this government has made betrayal a norm, he said. He further announced that the BJP would launch a 16-day statewide protest in four phases, starting tomorrow, to fight against the government’s policies. Each district will host a symbolic 1-kilometre protest march. The agitation will kick off in Mysuru, with Union Minister Prahlad Joshi flagging off the movement. State BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra is expected to participate in 99% of the protest events, Ashok added, underlining the party's commitment to leading a people’s movement against what they termed as Congress's loot raj.