'Protest against your own party': Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar mocks BJP's 'Jan Akrosh Yatra'

NEW DELHI: Taking a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) newly launched 'Jan Akrosh Yatra' against price hikes in Karnataka, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said BJP leaders should direct their anger towards their own party at the Centre, which is responsible for the rising prices of petrol, diesel and LPG.
In a video message shared by his office, Shivakumar said, "Namaskar to all my BJP friends. You all are doing 'Jan Akrosh Yatra'. I congratulate all of you. But at the same time, Government of India, your BJP Government has hiked the price of petrol, diesel and gas. So, your 'Jan Akrosh Yatra' should go on with BJP, it is your party."

Wishing them well in their campaign, Shivakumar sarcastically urged BJP leaders to continue their protest against their own central leadership to "solve their problems." His remarks came a day after the Karnataka BJP launched the statewide yatra in Mangaluru, slamming the state’s Congress government for recent price hikes and new taxes.
Earlier on April 3, BJP MLA and former minister R Ashoka launched a blistering attack on the Congress-led Karnataka government, accusing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Dy CM Shivakumar of financial mismanagement and corruption. “BJP is fighting against the government's price hike policies and will take it to a logical conclusion,” he said, further alleging, “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is stealing through taxes, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is stealing through commissions.”
Ashoka also criticised the hike in liquor prices, calling it an indirect tax on the people. “The price of liquor has also been raised to extract money from alcohol lovers,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, at the national level, the Central government recently revised LPG prices to allow oil marketing companies (OMCs) to recover previous under-recoveries. According to Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, despite the hike, the government remains committed to providing affordable LPG cylinders. Under the new pricing, a 14.2 kg LPG cylinder now costs Rs 1028, while Ujjwala beneficiaries will continue to receive them at a subsidised rate of Rs 553. Regular consumers will get a Rs 175 discount, bringing the price to Rs 853.
Puri said the decision was essential to help OMCs manage financial losses due to international price fluctuations, even as the government maintains subsidies for vulnerable households.