Several BJP leaders are gearing up to protest against the Karnataka Congress government’s decision to raise petrol prices by ₹3 and diesel prices by ₹3.50. The protest, slated for Monday, comes in response to a notification from the finance department on June 15, announcing an increase in sales tax for petrol from 25.92 percent to 29.84 percent and from 14.34 percent to 18.44 percent for diesel. This move pushes the price of petrol from ₹99.84 to ₹102.84 and diesel from ₹88.95.
BY Vijayendra, the state president of BJP, stated, “The BJP demands an immediate rollback of this decision by the Chief Minister. If not, there will be widespread protests across Karnataka. With farmers already facing drought and the state government grappling with financial difficulties, this decision will impact all citizens.”
Opposing voices also came from JD(S)’ H D Kumaraswamy, who serves as the Union Heavy Industries and Steel Minister, arguing that this hike burdens regular citizens rather than the state government. He highlighted other cost increases such as engineering fees by 15 percent, electricity prices by ₹2.4, and property prices by 30-50 percent, among others. Kumaraswamy pointed out the financial fraud in the Valmiki Development Corporation, alleging misappropriation of funds in Telangana’s Congress-led government.
Karnataka MP Tejasvi Surya criticized the Congress government for various hikes and alleged financial misconduct, including the Valmiki Development Corporation case, characterizing it as a government built on deception and false promises.
In defense of the hike, CM Siddaramaiah pointed out that Karnataka’s fuel rates remain lower than those in many other states. He cited examples like Maharashtra, where the VAT on petrol is 25 percent plus an additional tax of ₹5.12 and 21 percent on diesel. He also noted that despite the VAT increase, diesel prices in Karnataka are lower than in BJP-ruled Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Political analyst Rajendra Chenni remarked that while the hike may affect the common man, it’s not unusually drastic and Karnataka’s fuel rates remain competitive with other states. He cautioned against using the fuel hike as justification for price increases in other areas, where the fuel hike may not directly impact prices.