Ashoka Criticizes CM Siddaramaiah Over Railway Fare Hike Remarks

Bengaluru, Jul 2 (PTI) - Senior BJP leader R Ashoka has criticized Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for his remarks against the recent railway fare hike instituted by the Modi-led Centre.

The Railway Ministry announced on June 30 that there would be a fare increase effective July 1: a 1 paisa per kilometre hike for non-AC classes and 2 paise per kilometre for AC classes in mail and express trains. Siddaramaiah quickly demanded a rollback of this decision.

Ashoka, defending the Centre’s decision, emphasized that the 'Vikas Express' (BJP) is committed to infrastructure improvements such as laying new tracks, electrifying routes, and enhancing safety measures. He alleged that Siddaramaiah’s government, conversely, remains fixated on "blame games".

Taking to the social media platform 'X', Ashoka accused Siddaramaiah of showing "hollow concern" for the common people.

"When your @INCKarnataka government increased milk prices, you termed it 'pro-farmer'. Similarly, hikes in petrol, diesel, property tax, stamp duty, liquor prices, and bus fares were described as ‘progressive revenue policy’. Yet, a nominal increase of just 1 to 3 paise per km by Indian Railways is labelled as 'anti-poor'?" Ashoka argued.

Supporting the Centre’s move, he noted that a 1 paisa per km increase translates to merely Re 1 extra for a 100 km journey. In contrast, fare hikes by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) under the Congress government have added Rs 10–30 even for short trips.

Ashoka further alleged that since the Congress assumed power in May 2023, milk prices have increased by Rs 9 per litre, petrol by Rs 3 per litre, and diesel by Rs 5.50 per litre.

"During this period, the NDA government at the Centre only increased excise duties on fuels once, by Rs 2 in April 2025, which had no impact on retail prices because oil companies absorbed the cost. Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has increased stamp duty, property tax, and other levies," Ashoka asserted.

Ashoka, who serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, vehemently criticized the Chief Minister for what he called "selective outrage" and "hypocrisy".

"Don’t pretend your tears are for the poor—they’re for your lost narrative. Your outrage is merely an express train of hypocrisy. People can clearly see the difference between nation-building and blame games," he alleged.

In another statement, Ashoka accused the Congress government of exploiting farmers under the guise of development.

Referring to a media report titled "Devanahalli: Landlords became farm labourers after losing their land to projects", he stated, "From proud landlords to daily wage labourers—this is the tragedy inflicted upon our annadaatas by what is essentially a government-backed real estate mafia."

The BJP leader alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar are engaged in a "land racket", selling fertile agricultural land to private interests and thereby harming farmers' livelihoods.

"And Rahul Gandhi? He speaks about justice and equity across the nation, while ignoring his party’s activities in Karnataka. His silence is not ignorance—it is complicity," Ashoka alleged.

"For farmers, land is life, and this Congress government is destroying it with ruthless arrogance. This is not development—it’s a blatant land grab," Ashoka concluded.