Congress is land grabbing in broad daylight!! Ashoka Fires Back at Siddaramaiah
Ashoka Fires Back at Siddaramaiah, Defends Rail Fare Hike as Congress Faces Hypocrisy Charge
Karnataka’s Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader R Ashoka launched a blistering attack on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for criticizing the Centre’s recent railway fare hike, accusing him of selective outrage and hypocrisy. The Railway Ministry announced on June 30 a modest fare increase of 1 paisa per kilometer for non-AC classes and 2 paise for AC classes in mail and express trains, effective July 1, prompting Siddaramaiah to demand an immediate rollback.
In a fiery post on X, Ashoka defended the hike, emphasizing that it fuels the BJP’s “Vikas Express” to build new tracks, electrify routes, and enhance passenger safety. He contrasted this with Siddaramaiah’s “platform of blame games.” “When your @INCKarnataka government hiked milk prices, it was ‘pro-farmer.’ When you raised petrol, diesel, property tax, stamp duty, liquor, and bus fares, it was ‘progressive revenue policy.’ But a 1-3 paisa per km rail fare correction is suddenly ‘anti-poor’?” Ashoka questioned, highlighting that a 100 km rail journey now costs just Re 1 extra, compared to Congress-led KSRTC and BMTC fare hikes adding Rs 10–30 for shorter trips.
Ashoka pointed out that since Congress took power in Karnataka in May 2023, milk prices have surged by Rs 9 per litre, petrol by Rs 3, and diesel by Rs 5.50. In contrast, the NDA government’s sole fuel excise duty hike of Rs 2 in April 2025 was absorbed by oil companies, leaving retail prices unchanged. “Your government’s stamp duty and property tax hikes fill its treasury, yet you cry foul over a nominal rail fare adjustment,” he charged.
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Beyond the fare dispute, Ashoka accused the Congress government of exploiting farmers, citing a report about Devanahalli landlords reduced to laborers due to land acquisitions for projects. He alleged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar are running a “land racket,” selling fertile farmland to private entities and devastating farmers’ livelihoods. “This isn’t development—it’s a daylight land grab,” Ashoka said, also slamming Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his silence, calling it “complicity.”
Ashoka concluded, “The people see through your express train of hypocrisy. While the BJP builds a stronger nation, your selective tears for the poor fool no one.”
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