HD Kumaraswamy Slams Karnataka Government Over Fuel Price Hikes

Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has sharply criticized the Karnataka government's recent decision to increase sales tax on petrol and diesel, resulting in a price hike of ₹3 per litre for petrol and ₹3.5 per litre for diesel. He accused the Congress-led administration of burdening the common people to fund its flagship guarantee schemes, such as Gruha Lakshmi. Kumaraswamy urged citizens to protest against what he termed the government's "daylight robbery" and misuse of public funds.

In response, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defended the tax increase, stating that even after the hike, Karnataka's fuel taxes remain lower than those in most southern states and comparable economies like Maharashtra. He emphasized that the additional revenue is essential to finance public services and development projects, asserting the government's commitment to balanced and responsible governance.