Counter to Janaakrosha Yatre, Cong to hold protest on April 22

Mangaluru

In response to the BJP’s Janaakrosha Yatre targeting the Congress-led Karnataka government, MLC Ivan D’Souza announced that the Congress will protest against the NDA government at the Centre over rising fuel and essential commodity prices. Speaking to the media, he said protests will begin in Bengaluru on April 17, followed by rallies in Mangaluru and Udupi on April 22. Similar demonstrations are being planned across all districts in the state.

D’Souza criticised the BJP, claiming its protests are aimed merely at staying politically relevant in Karnataka. “Instead of blaming the state government, they should protest against the Centre, which is responsible for fuel and LPG price hikes. This is the reason essential goods have become costlier,” he said.

He urged the Centre to reduce cess on petrol and diesel and stated that the Karnataka budget did not impose new burdens. “While the state gives Rs 2,000 to women under the guarantee scheme, the Centre takes it away by raising LPG prices,” he said.

Challenging BJP leaders to an open debate, D’Souza demanded a white paper identifying who is actually responsible for price rise and the performance of the Jandhan scheme.

He also questioned the BJP’s stand on the caste census. “The cabinet has accepted the report and it will be discussed on April 17. Why is BJP opposing it now, despite appointing Jayaprakash Hegde to head the Commission?” he asked. D’Souza added that 5.9 crore out of 6.38 crore people were covered, yet BJP MLAs claim they were missed.