BJP to launch protest post-Ugadi against state govt. over price hike of basic commodities: R. Ashoka
Bengaluru: Opposition leader R. Ashoka has launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led state government, warning that the BJP will intensify its protest after Ugadi, accusing the government of burdening the public with steep hikes in electricity, water, and milk prices following the presentation of the state budget.
Addressing the media in Bengaluru on Friday, Ashoka criticized Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for allegedly implementing guaranteed schemes on one hand while simultaneously raising the cost of essential commodities on the other. “The common man is suffering due to the increase in basic utility charges. The BJP will not remain silent we will begin our fight after Ugadi,” he declared.
Highlighting the plight of farmers, Ashoka said the government had failed to release the promised milk subsidy. “Farmers never demanded a milk price hike. The previous BJP government paid the arrears that the Congress had left pending. But now, the Congress is claiming to have cleared those arrears, which is false,” he claimed. He further alleged that although the government had promised to increase the milk subsidy from Rs. 5 to Rs. 7 per litre, the increase was never implemented.
Accusing Siddaramaiah of mismanaging state finances, Ashoka claimed that the Chief Minister alone was responsible for 65 percent of the state's total loan burden among all past CMs. “He has presented a budget full of misleading data. Prices are being increased like a festival gift. Even ward fees in government hospitals have gone up,” he said, branding the capital as “Expensive Bengaluru” instead of “Brand Bengaluru.”
In a stinging analogy, Ashoka said the government had “brought the state to a wheelchair” in the last 20 months. “The government is giving Rs. 2,000 and taking it back in other forms. People are being thrown from the frying pan into the fire. What face will they show to claim success after two years of such governance?” he questioned. He also accused the government of collecting 40 to 60 percent commission from contractors.
Responding to Upper House Opposition Leader Chalavadi Narayanaswamy’s remarks that BJP MLAs S.T. Somashekhar and Shivaram Hebbar might be expelled, Ashoka said that such decisions lie with the central leadership. “Our focus should be on fighting the Congress together. The party is like our mother no one should speak against it,” he added.
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Chhattisgarh govt enforces austerity measures, restricts foreign travel and cuts convoy vehicles
Raipur (PTI): The Chhattisgarh government on Saturday rolled out a set of austerity measures, including restricted use of convoy vehicles for the chief minister, ministers and heads of state-run bodies, besides curbs on foreign travel at government expense.
The state has decided to implement the cost-saving steps with immediate effect to ensure efficient management of financial resources and discipline in public spending, said a directive issued by Finance Secretary Rohit Yadav.
The move follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for austerity amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
The order said that only essential vehicles should be used in the convoys of the CM, ministers and office-bearers of corporations, boards and commissions, while ensuring restrained use of other government resources.
It also directed departments to take steps for a phased conversion of all official vehicles into electric vehicles in order to promote the use of EVs.
As part of fuel-saving measures, expenditure on petrol and diesel for government vehicles should be kept to a minimum, the directive said.
Vehicle pooling arrangements should also be implemented for officials of departments travelling to the same destination, it added.
The order further stated that foreign travel of government employees at state expenses will be completely prohibited except under extremely unavoidable circumstances. In such cases, prior approval of the CM will be mandatory.
To reduce administrative expenditure, departments have been instructed to hold physical meetings preferably only once a month and encourage virtual and online meetings. Regular departmental review meetings should compulsorily be conducted through video conferencing, it said.
The government also stressed the need for energy conservation in its offices, directing that all electrical equipment, including lights, fans, air-conditioners and computers, must be switched off after office hours.
The directive will remain effective till September 30 this year.
Amid the war involving the US, Israel and Iran, Modi has suggested reducing petrol and diesel consumption, using metro rail services in cities, carpooling, increased use of EVs, utilising railway services for parcel movement and working from home to conserve foreign exchange.
