H.D. Kumaraswamy at J.P. Bhavan in Bengaluru on October 13.
Bengaluru: Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on November 7 accused the state Congress government of failing to provide basic infrastructure in Bengaluru and of managing its finances only by raising prices, while taking part in a JDS protest in Pulakeshinagar Assembly constituency.
The protest, led by former MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy, was held against the lack of basic amenities in Pulakeshinagar and the increase in the prices of milk, curd and other items.
Addressing the gathering, Kumaraswamy said people in the area are deprived of drinking water, drainage and several other basic facilities. He alleged that more than Rs 250 crore of taxpayers’ money had been looted in Pulakeshinagar in the name of development works without any basic amenities being provided.
Kumaraswamy said the state government had increased the price of milk by Rs 10 to Rs 12 per litre, making life harder for the poor and working people. He said he was not opposed to a higher milk price for farmers, but alleged that the money was not reaching them, while poor families with children were struggling to buy milk and curd. He also alleged that BMTC bus fares had been raised by 45 per cent, and that the government was burdening people by raising bus and pass fares even while claiming to offer free travel to women.
He accused the state government of portraying the 5 kg of free rice supplied by the Centre as its own scheme, and alleged that money under the Rs 2,000 scheme for women heads of households was not being released, development works had stalled and young people had no jobs.
Kumaraswamy also alleged that people were being denied the right to protest, saying they were told that no more than 50 to 100 people could gather because of a court order. People do not have even the minimum freedom to raise their voice under this government, he said.
He praised Srinivasa Murthy as someone who treats Muslims, Dalits, Christians and all others equally, and called for a united fight to bring a pro-poor government in line with B.R. Ambedkar’s ideals. On the occasion, Irfan, who had headed the Congress minority unit, left the Congress and joined the JDS, according to the party.
Greater Bengaluru JDS president H.M. Ramesh Gowda also spoke.
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