Siddaramaiah demands immediate roll back of hike in railway fares
Bengaluru (PTI): Slamming the BJP-led government at the Centre for the railway fare hike, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has demanded its immediate rollback.
The railway ministry issued an official circular on Monday, increasing the fares of the non-air-conditioned class in mail and express trains by 1 paisa and all air-conditioned classes by 2 paise per kilometre from July 1.
"Railway fares hiked!! Who bears the brunt? The daily wage workers, students, small traders, and the common man struggling under rising prices," Siddaramaiah posted on 'X' on Tuesday.
He said, "When we increased milk prices to help our farmers, Karnataka BJP shouted in the streets, and called it anti-people. But now, when the BJP led Union Govt hikes railway fares, there is deafening silence. Why? Because this hike doesn't help farmers or the poor, it only helps BJP Government fill its own coffers."
Noting that when metro fares were hiked in Karnataka after 8 years, BJP leaders rushed to blame the Congress government, ignoring the fact that the fare hike decision was taken by a fare fixation committee constituted by the Union Government itself, he said. Back then, the Centre "manipulated" the narrative to place the burden on the state government, Siddaramaiah added.
"Now, with this railway fare hike, who will they place the burden on?" he asked.
"Your (BJP) 'Vikas Express' seems to run only on the sweat and tears of the poor, while your leaders enjoy power by trampling on democracy. The double standards are clear," he claimed, adding that the BJP's concern for the common man vanishes when it is about its own revenue.
Stating that the Congress stands with the people of Karnataka and the country who are forced to pay more for essential travel, Siddaramaiah said this fare hike must be rolled back immediately.
"Don't make people's daily travel another jumla. Let the trains run, not the people's patience," he added.
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Man murdered over decade-old personal dispute, accused arrested
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): A 49-year-old man was hacked to death with a machete in this district, allegedly over a personal dispute dating back nearly a decade, police said on Tuesday.
The deceased has been identified as Basappa Hosamani, a resident of Sadoni village, they said.
The accused, Irayya Sangayya Mathapati (32), has been arrested in connection with the murder, police said.
According to the police, the incident occurred on Monday evening in Hoolikatti village of Savadatti taluk.
The crime is linked to an incident that took place about ten years ago, when Hosamani allegedly eloped with the accused's mother and went to Kolhapur in Maharashtra. At the time, accused Mathapati was 18-years-old.
Police said Hosamani had recently returned to the village for some work after leaving the woman in Kolhapur.
Investigators believe the accused, who had been nursing a long-standing grudge over the issue, attacked Hosamani with a machete, inflicting multiple fatal injuries.
After the incident, the accused allegedly informed the police himself and remained at the scene until officers arrived, they said.
A case of murder has been registered at the Savadatti police station, and further investigation is underway.
