Karnataka BJP to Protest Rising Milk and Curd Prices Statewide

Davanagere, October 31 (Daily Kiran) : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka has announced plans for statewide protests against the rising prices of milk and curd. Party president and legislator B.Y. Vijayendra made the announcement in Davanagere, accusing the Congress-led state government of burdening the public with continuous price hikes.

Speaking to reporters, Vijayendra claimed that the government presented these price increases as gifts to the public during the festive season of Diwali and Kannada Rajyotsava. The price of milk has risen by ₹8 per liter, while curd prices have also seen an increase.

The state BJP president warned that the government is likely to raise bus fares in the near future. He emphasized that while increasing milk prices might benefit farmers, it is unfair to pass these costs onto consumers under the guise of helping farmers. Instead, he suggested that the state government should enhance subsidies on milk and absorb the additional expenses itself.

Vijayendra criticized the Congress government for raising prices on petrol, alcohol, milk, and stamp duties since coming to power in Karnataka. He pointed out that ordinary families are also facing increased costs for hospital services, bike taxis, and parking, making life even more challenging amid rising inflation.

Demanding a reversal of the price hikes, he insisted that the state government should bear these additional costs rather than shifting the burden onto consumers. He warned that if the situation does not improve, the BJP will intensify its protests across the state.

In response to Congress leader Ugrappa’s statement about potential protests during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit if reservation for the Valmiki community is not included in the Constitution’s Ninth Schedule, Vijayendra accused Congress of engaging in political theatrics. He also criticized the government’s failure to address the issues faced by sugarcane farmers, labeling its approach as “ridiculous.”

Citing a special package for farmers in Haryana, he urged the Karnataka government to take the concerns of sugarcane producers seriously. Responding to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s remarks about a lack of funds for purchasing diesel for buses, Vijayendra reiterated that the BJP has been demanding a white paper on the state’s financial situation for the past six months.

He questioned the government’s transparency, pointing out that they had merely shown their empty pockets in response to the BJP’s demands. Additionally, he claimed that approximately ₹1,700 crore in subsidies owed to milk producers remains unpaid, indicating that the state treasury is running dry.