BJP protests hikes in bus fare, milk price in Hubballi-Dharwad

Members of Bharatiya Janata Party burning the effigy of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar during a protest against hikes in bus fare and milk prices, in Hubballi on Friday.

Members of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged protests in Hubballi and Dharwad on Friday, condemning the Congress government’s decision to increase bus fares and milk prices, alleging that the hikes would burden the poor and middle-class families.

In Hubballi, the BJP Yuva Morcha of the Hubballi-Dharwad East Assembly constituency, led by its president Praveen Kubasad, took out a protest march from Shivaji Chowk through Maratha Galli to Ganeshpet Circle. Protesters raised slogans against the State government and burnt an effigy of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

Addressing the protesters, BJP leaders Jayatirtha Katti and district general secretary Shivu Menasinakai alleged that the fare hikes would impose an additional financial burden on people already struggling with rising prices of essential commodities. They demanded that the government withdraw the decision.

Mr. Menasinakai said the protesters had collected ₹490 by seeking alms as a symbolic protest against the price hikes. The amount would be remitted to the State government’s treasury through the Hubballi tahsildar, he said.

BJP’s Hubballi-Dharwad East unit president Manjunath Katakar urged the government to respond to people’s concerns and pursue policies in their interest.

In Dharwad, the BJP’s Hubballi-Dharwad West Assembly constituency unit staged a protest at Maharana Pratap Singh Circle near the old bus stand.

Addressing the protesters, Deputy Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Arvind Bellad accused the Congress government of burdening the poor and middle-class families through repeated price increases. He alleged that the government was neglecting development and public welfare while being preoccupied with corruption.

He also alleged that the government was considering an increase in stamp duty.

Former mayors Shivu Hiremath and Jyoti Patil, municipal councillors and several BJP leaders and workers participated in the protest.