Leaders of BJP stage a protest against Karnataka government at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on November 11, 2026.
| Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN

The Opposition BJP which staged a protest in Bengaluru on Wednesday (November 11, 2026) against hike in prices of various commodities and services by the Congress government declared that it would launch a State-wide campaign against the government if the price hike was not rolled back. 

Addressing the protest, which was attended by BJP top leaders including former chief ministers B.S. Yediyurappa, Basavaraj Bommai and Jagadish Shettar besides leaders of the Opposition in the legislature R. Ashok and Chalavadi Narayanswamy, BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra declared that the party would take the protest against the government to panchayat level if the price hike was not withdrawn. 

Multiple price hikes

He maintained that the only achievement of the Congress government in the state in the last three-and-a-half years was increasing prices of various services and essential commodities. “On the one hand, the Congress government claims that it is providing relief to people through its guarantee schemes. But on the other, it is taking out the money from their pockets through price rise,’ he alleged. 

Describing the increase in milk price by ₹8 and ghee by ₹250 as Deepavali gift by the Congress government, Mr. Vijayendra sought to counter the government’s stand that such a hike was necessary to provide financial support to farmers. “If at all the government wanted to help milk farmers, it could have increased the incentive being provided to them through the government instead of passing it on to consumers,” he argued. 

He said the government had increased the burden on people by raising the tax on petrol and diesel on four occasions, and increasing stamp paper charges, hospital service cost and bus fares. In fact, the Karnataka High Court too had taken note of the price rise, he said. 

Council poll upset

Describing the price rise as the sixth guarantee of the Congress government, he cautioned Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar that people were anguished over such a constant increase in prices. The clean sweep of the Council elections by the NDA was an indication of people’s anguish against the government, he maintained. 

He alleged that the ministers and Congress legislators themselves were dissatisfied over the government’s style of functioning. The ongoing developments within the Congress were a clear indication that there was confusion within the party over the leadership issue. 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ashok maintained that people of the State would teach a befitting lesson to the Congress in the next Assembly elections.

Published – November 11, 2026 06:18 pm IST