Bengaluru, July 22 (IANS) Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, announced that the BJP will stage a protest outside the Karnataka Congress office in Bengaluru today against Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, accusing them of indulging in “political drama” over the NEET issue while neglecting pressing concerns in Karnataka, including the drought situation and deaths during the RCB victory celebrations.
Addressing the media, Ashoka said the Congress leadership was focusing on protests in Delhi instead of addressing the severe drought affecting large parts of Karnataka.
He alleged that the state government had failed to respond adequately to the crisis and accused Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, ministers, former ministers and legislators of being preoccupied with political activities in the national capital.
“Nearly the entire state is facing drought. Already, 175 taluks have been affected, and only a few districts remain unaffected. But there is no government in Karnataka today. The government must immediately declare drought and allocate Rs 20 crore each for drinking water works in every Assembly constituency and taluk,” he said.
Ashoka also demanded the constitution of taluk-level drought task forces to monitor and address the situation on a war footing.
Targeting the Congress over its protest in Delhi on the NEET issue, Ashoka claimed that the party was attempting to gain political mileage.
He criticized Rahul Gandhi for participating in the demonstrations and alleged that the Congress was ignoring issues affecting Karnataka.
“The Congress is staging protests near the Prime Minister’s Office over NEET. This is a restricted area, and the protest is purely political. Rahul Gandhi has time to participate in these protests but has no time to speak about the 11 innocent people who died during the RCB celebrations in Bengaluru,” he said.
Referring to the stampede-like incident during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru victory celebrations, Ashoka questioned whether those responsible had been held accountable and alleged that the matter had been conveniently sidelined.
He further said that the BJP’s protest outside the Congress office would be aimed at highlighting what he described as the Congress leadership’s failure to address Karnataka’s concerns.
“You have the right to speak in Parliament, but you have failed in your responsibilities. Rahul Gandhi has become an unfit Leader of the Opposition,” Ashoka said, adding that BJP MLAs and party workers would participate in the demonstration.
The BJP leader’s remarks came amid growing political sparring between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP over the state’s drought preparedness, the handling of the NEET issue, and other governance-related matters in Karnataka.
–IANS
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