The Karnataka government says that funds are needed for development works and guarantee schemes and hence the prices of petrol and diesel have been increased.
The government has given clarification after increasing the prices of petrol and diesel in Karnataka. Karnataka Commerce and Industry Minister MB Patil said that guaranteed schemes need funds. Apart from this, money is also needed for development works. He said that despite the increase in prices, petrol and diesel are available in Karnataka at lower prices than other states.
Let us tell you that the state government has increased the sales tax on petrol by Rs 3 per liter and on diesel by Rs 3.5 per liter. The opposition is aggressive on this issue. BJP President in Karnataka has said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah should immediately withdraw this decision otherwise there will be demonstrations in the entire state. He said, even after losing in the Lok Sabha elections, the Chief Minister is not ready to accept that the economic condition of the state has deteriorated. The increase in fuel prices shows that the government is not able to run the guarantee scheme. The government should immediately withdraw its decision.
Earlier, the state finance department had issued orders to increase the sales tax on petrol from 25.92 percent to 29.84 percent and on diesel from 14.34 to 18.44 percent. The government hopes that from this step it will get an annual benefit of Rs 2500 to 2800 crore. In the recently held Lok Sabha elections, NDA had won 19 out of 28 seats in Karnataka.
Opposition leader R Ashoka attacked the Congress government and said that this step is against the people. The public is being punished for supporting BJP. He said, first promises were made without thinking and then the government is not able to fulfill those promises. Now efforts are being made to save their votes somehow. For this, the burden on the public is being increased. Let us tell you that this year the Government of Karnataka had announced a fund of Rs 52009 crore to complete five guarantee schemes.
What are the five guarantee schemes of Congress?
Under five guarantee schemes, the Congress government has provided free electricity up to 200 units, an amount of Rs 2000 to the female head of the family, five kg additional rice to every family below the poverty line, Rs 3000 per month to unemployed graduate youth and free travel for women in government buses.