Union minister criticises Karnataka government over fuel taxes and bus fares
Pralhad Joshi alleges the state collected over Rs 6,000 crore annually through high fuel cesses.
Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi accused the Congress government in Karnataka of imposing the highest petrol and diesel cesses in India, according to the Deccan Herald.
Joshi stated that the central government's petrol cess is Rs 11 per litre compared to the state's Rs 29 per litre, while the diesel cess is Rs 7 per litre centrally against Rs 21 per litre in Karnataka. He rejected claims by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar that central fuel taxes were excessive.
The minister further alleged that the state government has increased 37 different taxes and fees in the three years since Congress took power, including electricity bills, school fees, and milk prices. He claimed these increases generated Rs 60,000 crore in a year, while the state claims to spend a similar amount on guarantee schemes.
The BJP has also protested a recent hike in bus fares for KSRTC and BMTC services, which began on Wednesday night. KSRTC fares rose by 23 per cent and BMTC fares by 35 per cent, with Bengaluru minimum ticket prices increasing from Rs 6 to Rs 10.
State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra described the fare hike as a burden on students, patients, and workers. He demanded an immediate rollback and the publication of the full loss accounts of the transport corporations.
Joshi also noted that the state raised Rs 4,500 crore through liquor price hikes and Rs 1,300 crore via milk price increases since July 2023.