Siddaramaiah dares Karnataka BJP leaders to question Centre over hike in railway fares
Davangere: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday criticised the Central government for increasing railway passenger fares, saying the hike has added to the financial burden on the common people, while BJP leaders in the state have failed to question the move.
Speaking to the media in Davangere, Siddaramaiah said the Centre had raised train travel fares, but leaders of the BJP in Karnataka were silent on an issue that directly affects ordinary citizens.
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Responding to questions about the bus and truck collision near Hiriyur in Chitradurga district, the Chief Minister said preliminary information from the police indicated that the truck driver was at fault. According to initial findings, the truck, which was coming from the opposite direction, crossed the divider and rammed into the bus.
He said the accident had claimed the lives of four women, a child, and the truck driver. Emphasising the need for strict adherence to safety norms, Siddaramaiah said all buses must follow safety measures without exception. He added that a detailed investigation into the accident would be conducted.
The Chief Minister also said he would be leaving for New Delhi later in the day to attend the Congress party’s executive committee meeting.
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Kerala CM slams Karnataka demolitions, calls it 'bulldozer justice'
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday strongly criticised the reported demolition of Muslim residential areas in Karnataka's capital, calling the action shocking and painful.
In a Facebook post, Vijayan referred to the reported bulldozing of Fakir Colony and Waseem Layout, where Muslim families had been living for many years.
He said the incident reflected a form of minority-targeting politics seen earlier in North India and warned that such practices were now spreading to the South.
The chief minister alleged that entire families were forced out of their homes in harsh winter conditions and pushed onto the streets, leaving them with no choice but to flee.
Vijayan expressed surprise that what he described as "bulldozer justice" was carried out under a Congress-led government in Karnataka.
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He questioned how such forced evictions could be justified by a party that claims to stand for social justice.
He added that governments should take responsibility for protecting the poor, ensuring housing, and preventing people from being driven out of their homes through the use of force.
According to media reports, a demolition drive in Kogilu village at Yelahanka last week pulled down more than 200 houses in Waseem Layout and Fakir Colony.
The operation was reportedly carried out by Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited. Reports said the houses were removed to clear what were described as encroachments on land marked for a proposed waste processing unit.
