Amid the ongoing political tensions in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has issued a sharp response to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) protest marches across the state, known as the Jan Akrosh Yatra. Shivakumar urged the BJP to shift the focus of their agitation towards the Central Government, holding it accountable for the economic distress faced by the public.
Speaking to the media, Shivakumar questioned the intent of the protests, stating that issues such as inflation, fuel price hikes, and economic slowdown are the direct result of policies made at the national level. “The people are angry, yes. But their anger is not because of Karnataka’s state government—it is due to the failures of the Union Government led by the BJP,” he said.
He added that the Congress-led Karnataka government is making sincere efforts to deliver on its promises, including schemes focused on welfare, education, and public healthcare. “Instead of misleading the public, BJP should take out its yatra to Delhi and demand answers from their own government,” he said.
The BJP, which began the Jan Akrosh Yatra to highlight alleged administrative failures in Karnataka, has intensified its criticism of the Congress government. However, Shivakumar maintained that the state's performance should not be judged in isolation from national economic challenges.
Shivakumar’s remarks also come as part of a broader Congress strategy to highlight inflation and unemployment in the lead-up to national elections. He reminded the public that key sectors like fuel pricing, GST, and taxation fall under the Centre's control, not the states.
Political observers note that the rhetoric signals the Congress party’s effort to frame the public discourse around national accountability while countering BJP’s state-level campaigns.
The BJP has yet to respond officially to Shivakumar’s latest remarks, but the exchange signals a deepening political battle as both parties gear up for future electoral contests.
