Criticising the BJP for remaining silent over the increase in petrol and diesel price, former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday termed Basavaraj Bommai as “silent” ( mouni) Chief Minister.
“The rise in prices of petrol and diesel by nearly ₹8 per litre have come as a bolt from the blue. This is India shining under the BJP,” he said in a tweet. Terming the BJP as a party for the rich, he said, “The BJP, which raises its voice on issues such as hijab, saffron shawl, Tipu Sultan in textbooks and ban on Muslim traders, has remained silent so far on this. The State Government has also remained silent. Attention of the common man is being diverted.”
Challenging the BJP leaders to take to the streets in protest against price rise, the former Chief Minister said that the common man’s dream of a home will remain a dream with a steep increase in cost of construction materials. “Common man’s pocket has been emptied out while a few industrialists have become top billionaires in the world,” he said.
“As Chief Minister when I increased the cess on a litre of petrol and diesel by ₹1.12 and ₹1.14, respectively, to fund the crop loan waiver of farmers, the BJP leaders, who did not want the benefits to go to farmers, were vocal in criticism. Why are the BJP leaders, who earlier carried empty cylinders in protest, silent?”
