Kumaraswamy slams Congress govt's move to hike bus fares in Karnataka

Bengaluru: The Congress government is giving with one hand and taking away with the other, said Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries H D Kumaraswamy, reacting to the Siddaramaiah-led government’s decision to increase bus fares in the state by 15 per cent.

Kumaraswamy opined that the people appeared to have resigned themselves to hikes in prices of essential commodities and services, and were hence not keen on protesting the government’s decision. The hike in bus fares was very much in keeping with what the Congress government had been doing ever since it came to power, the Union Minister added.

“Cess on diesel and petrol has been hiked, stamp duty has been increased, as have guidance values, price of liquor and milk. There are reports of the government planning to raise the water tariff,” Kumaraswamy said.

The Union Minister also claimed that poor administration had landed the Energy Department in the state in a crisis. “Let’s see what happens next in the department,” he said.