Surjewala alleges BJP’s ‘anti-Kannadiga vendetta,’ claims Karnataka denied Rs 2 lakh crore by Centre
Bengaluru (PTI): AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala on Sunday said that the Modi-led government and the BJP’s "anti-Kannadiga vendetta" have been exposed, as Karnataka is "denied" its rightful dues of about Rs 2 lakh crore by the Centre.
He added that the deliberate silence of the Karnataka BJP regarding the Modi government's "step-motherly treatment" of Kannadigas' rights and interests cannot remain unpunished, asserting that the BJP has "betrayed" Karnataka and does not deserve the vote.
"The Modi government and the BJP’s anti-Kannadiga vendetta have been exposed in the denial of dues worth Rs 2 lakh crore to Karnataka by the central government. The Modi government has unleashed a sinister conspiracy against Karnataka by blocking core agrarian, irrigation, defence, and infrastructure projects," Surjewala said.
Speaking to reporters, he said the BJP is "harmful" for Karnataka, accusing the saffron party-led government at the Centre of denying budgetary dues, blocking development, and opposing the five Congress guarantees (Shakti, Gruha Lakshmi, Gruha Jyoti, Yuva Nidhi and Anna Bhagya).
"BJP has betrayed Karnataka, and it does not deserve the vote of Kannadigas," he added.
Claiming that the BJP’s "conspiracy" and "anti-Kannadiga vendetta" stands exposed "threadbare", the Congress leader said that BJP union ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, and every single BJP leader need to answer for the stark truth.
"Enmity with Karnataka has led to the denial of its share in taxes and grants from the Centre worth about Rs 2 lakh crore," he said, listing that the denial of Karnataka’s share in the 14th and 15th Finance Commissions resulted in a loss of Rs 79,770 crore; unscientific GST implementation caused a loss of Rs 59,274 crore; and the new GST rationalisation regime led to a direct loss of Rs 9,000 crore, among others.
"In total, the direct loss to the people of Karnataka due to the BJP’s brazen fiscal injustice is Rs 1,97,257 crore, almost Rs 2 lakh crore. Will the BJP leaders answer before seeking votes in Davanagere South and Bagalkot?" he asked.
Alleging the BJP's conspiracy to block agrarian, irrigation, defence, and infrastructure projects in the state, Surjewala claimed it is "an act of revenge" against Kannadigas.
Citing issues concerning various irrigation and drinking water projects pending before the Centre—like the Upper Bhadra River project, Mahadayi (Kalasa-Banduri) project, Yettinahole drinking water project, and Mekedatu irrigation & drinking water project—he said, "BJP leaders of Karnataka, including the union ministers of BJP and JDS, neither have the guts to question the PM nor utter a word seeking justice for Kannadigas."
The AICC general secretary said Karnataka has been denied a defence corridor by the BJP government at the Centre despite contributing 67 per cent of India's aerospace and defence manufacturing.
Karnataka has also been deliberately denied approval for DPR clearance for a "plastic park" in Mangaluru by the union government, he said.
Along with their "sinister silence" on the Modi government's injustice, the Karnataka BJP leaders continue to oppose the five Congress guarantees. Surjewala said that through these schemes, the Congress government has transferred Rs 1.31 lakh crore to Kannadigas. "This makes their patent hatred towards Kannadigas apparent," he alleged.
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IOCL actively strengthens auto LPG distribution in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): IOCL on Sunday said it is actively strengthening Auto LPG distribution across its network in Karnataka to address the surge in demand arising from the ongoing geopolitical situation.
The company, however, highlighted that infrastructure limitations—including a limited number of Auto LPG Dispensing Stations (ALDS), constrained dispensing capacity, and operational challenges—are making it difficult to fully offset the supply gap caused by the closure of private Auto LPG outlets.
Bengaluru and several other parts of the state are witnessing disruptions in auto-rickshaw services due to a shortage of Auto LPG.
Long queues of autos have been seen outside fuel stations at many locations, with drivers waiting for hours for supplies.
“In Karnataka, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) collectively operate 72 ALDS, with Indian Oil Corporation accounting for 55 of these outlets. In comparison, over 300 ALDS were operated by private players; however, nearly 80 per cent of these private stations have become non-operational due to prevailing geopolitical challenges,” Indian Oil Corporation Limited said in a release.
Stating that IOCL has significantly scaled up its supply in Karnataka with the support of the Government of India, the company said its average daily supply, which stood at approximately 43.5 MT per day in February, increased to 59.53 MT per day in March and has been further ramped up to 68.53 MT per day with effect from April 4.
“Despite these efforts, infrastructure limitations—including a limited number of ALDS, constrained dispensing capacity, and operational challenges—make it difficult to fully offset the supply gap caused by the closure of private Auto LPG outlets,” it added.
Highlighting that pricing disparities are influencing consumer behaviour, the company said PSU-operated outlets, including those of IOCL, are retailing Auto LPG at Rs 89.52 per litre in Bengaluru, whereas private marketers are selling it between Rs 99 and Rs 105 per litre.
This difference has led to a significant shift in customer preference towards PSU-operated ALDS, resulting in increased footfall and longer waiting times at these stations, it said.
It also noted that approximately 70 per cent of the auto-rickshaw fleet is equipped with dual-fuel capability, allowing operation on both Auto LPG and petrol.
“In light of the current situation, users are encouraged to temporarily switch to petrol as an alternative fuel. Similar transitions have already been observed in markets such as Puttur and other areas where OMC-operated ALDS are limited, demonstrating the practicality of this approach,” the release said.
While Auto LPG continues to remain available across the OMC network, IOCL said that in case of longer waiting times, customers are encouraged to utilise the dual-fuel capability of their vehicles and switch to petrol to ensure uninterrupted mobility.
Indian Oil Corporation Limited remains committed to ensuring fuel availability and supporting customers during this period of heightened demand, it added.
