Congress workers protested against BJP’s BY Vijayendra over remarks, while the BJP held counter-demonstrations across Mandya opposing the Karnataka government’s recent decision to hike milk prices by Rs 8 per litre.
Congress Protests Against BJP Leader
Congress workers on Tuesday staged a demonstration near the residences of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State President BY Vijayendra and former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, urging Vijayendra to apologise for alleged derogatory remarks. Demonstrators pasted provocative posters bearing the inscription “‘RTGS Chor BY Vijayendra'” across the vicinity of the BJP leader’s property to register their condemnation and accused Vijayendra of resorting to abusive language that they argued directly undermines and insults the dignity of the party’s high command. According to party sources, the activists alleged that the BJP state president had used abusive language against Congress leaders and said such statements are an insult to the party’s leadership, urging Vijayendra to withdraw his statement and apologise publicly.
BJP Protests Milk Price Hike
The development comes after Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the state Cabinet had decided to increase milk prices by Rs 8 per litre, against a demand for a Rs 12 hike from November 1. On the other hand, targeting the Congress-led Karnataka government over the recent Rs 8 per litre milk price hike, BJP workers on Tuesday distributed milk, curd, and roses among the public while protesting in Mandya, accusing the Congress of adopting anti-people policies. The protest was held at Mahaveer Circle in Mandya under the leadership of BJP leader CT Manjunath. The protesters distributed milk and curd and presented roses to members of the public to highlight their opposition to the price hike.
Allegations of Misrule
Carrying posters mocking the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister as ‘Price Hike Badshah’ and ‘Price Hike King’, the BJP workers raised slogans against the state government, calling it a ‘Pickpocket Government’. Accusing the Congress government of burdening the public, the protesters alleged that the decision to increase milk prices by Rs 8 in the state reflected its anti-people approach. “Without giving aid to farmers from the government’s treasury, instead, it is enacting a drama of helping farmers by increasing milk prices. When milk prices were increased earlier, the benefit did not reach farmers,” the protesters said. They further accused the Congress government of indulging in misrule and claimed that the price hike was adding to the financial burden on the public. “This is an act of Congress misrule. It is cutting people’s pockets and pickpocketing. People themselves will teach a lesson to this government in the coming days,” they warned.
Government Justification for Price Hike
The Karnataka government increased milk prices by up to Rs 8 per litre, Minister Krishna Byre Gowda announced on Thursday. “The state government has discussed and decided to increase the price of milk up to Rs 8 per litre,” Gowda said. Explaining the decision, the minister said the state was facing drought conditions, and farmers were protesting over sugarcane prices, arguing that the existing rates were insufficient. He said the government had a responsibility to support farmers, many of whom depend on dairy farming for their livelihoods.
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