New Delhi [India]: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Tuesday strongly criticised the Karnataka Congress government, accusing it of “taxing and looting” citizens while failing to maintain infrastructure. The spokesperson claimed that the state government has an anti-Hindu mindset and alleged it raised KSRTC bus fares on the Bengaluru-Mysuru route during the Dasara festival, affecting the Hindu community the most.
Allegations over Dasara bus fares
Poonawalla described the Congress government as a “Khata khat loot and jhooth” government, saying, “It only taxes and increases prices. At the time of the Dasara festival, when the Bengaluru-Mysuru route is used the most by Hindus, they are raising KSRTC bus fares. This shows how they want to loot the common people and those celebrating Dasara, and then they use it to fill their own pockets, and money is stolen through various scams and sent to 10, Janpath.”
The BJP spokesperson also accused the government of failing to provide adequate infrastructure in the state, particularly highlighting the worsening condition of roads filled with potholes.
Pothole tragedy sparks outrage
The comments came in the wake of a tragic accident in Bengaluru, where a 22-year-old student, identified as Tanushree, died after a tipper truck crushed her while trying to avoid a pothole near Budigere Cross on Kempegowda International Airport (KIAL) Road. The accident occurred under the jurisdiction of Avalahalli Traffic Police Station, prompting criticism of the state government’s inability to maintain road safety.
Poonawalla remarked, “It is not ‘Mohabaat ki Dukan’ but ‘Maut ka samaan and maut ki dukaan’ by the Congress party. They have raised the prices, and in return, Karnataka has not received good infrastructure. All they have given is pothole-filled roads. A shocking incident where a girl has lost her life while avoiding a pothole, and a truck ran over her. Karnataka Congress is a pothole in governance and corruption.”
Government response and funding
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, DK Shivakumar, countered criticism by blaming the previous BJP government for the poor state of roads. He stated that the current administration has allocated Rs 750 crore for pothole repairs in Bengaluru. Speaking after paying last respects to renowned author S L Bhyrappa at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Shivakumar said, “We are committed to fixing the pothole issue in Bengaluru. The CM has released a grant of Rs 750 crore for this purpose.”
Despite this, opposition parties argue that administrative failures and delayed action have made the roads unsafe, causing avoidable accidents. Residents and commuters continue to demand urgent measures to improve road quality and prevent further tragedies.
Conclusion
The debate over rising bus fares and the deteriorating road conditions has intensified political tensions in Karnataka. While the BJP focuses on alleged misgovernance and anti-Hindu bias, the Congress maintains that infrastructure issues are being addressed and previous administrations are partly responsible. Meanwhile, citizens continue to face the consequences of poorly maintained roads, highlighting the urgent need for effective governance and accountability.