BJP to launch 16-day ‘Janakrosha yatre’ from today

Leader of the Opposition in the Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly R. Ashok at a press conference in Bengaluru today.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Building further on its day-and-night dharna, the Opposition BJP is embarking upon a 16-day State tour of its leaders for the campaign titled ‘Janakrosha yatre’ (people’s anguish) against price rise from Monday. 

The logo for the campaign – which will also focus on the alleged appeasement of Muslims and diversion of funds meant for Dalits – was released in Bengaluru on Sunday by the party leaders. 

The first phase of the yatre will be inaugurated by Union Minister Pralhad Joshi in Mysuru after offering pooja at Chamundeshwari temple on Monday evening in the presence of prominent leaders including State president B.Y. Vijayendra and leaders of the Opposition in both the legislature houses R. Ashok and Chalavadi Narayanaswamy.  

The campaign will be taken up in four phases till May 3. During the campaign, the BJP leaders would take out protest marches of 1 km and address conventions at the district centres. 

The BJP, which also observed its Foundation Day on Sunday, set the tempo for the proposed statewide campaign with the wish: ‘Let the Ravana rajya vanish in Karnataka making way for Rama rajya.’  

Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Leader of the Opposition in Assembly R. Ashok alleged that the price rise under the regime of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was unprecedented in the history of Karnataka. 

Prices of various services and commodities including metro fares, college entrance fee, sowing seeds, fuel and liquor had been increased. It was unfortunate that hefty charges had been imposed on the citizens of Bengaluru for handling waste, he said. He expressed concern that life had become burdensome for poor and middle class people in Karnataka owing to the sharp hike in prices of services and commodities. 

He accused the CM of a political vendetta against BJP workers. Recalling that the Congress leaders had earlier argued that a death note was the main witness with respect to suicides, he sought to know why the Congress government was yet to acknowledge the death note of BJP worker from Kodagu Vinay. He said the same set of Congress leaders had demanded the resignation of the then Minister K.S. Eshwarappa based on a purported death note. But now, these leaders had adopted a different stand, he alleged. 

He particularly took exception to the police filing cases against those publicly criticising the government via social media posts.