Kumaraswamy says hike fuelling guarantees, no says Shivakumar

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Union Minister for Heavy Industries, Steel and Public Enterprises HD Kumaraswamy on Saturday claimed that the recent hike in fuel prices by the State government was done to fund the five guarantees which cost the exchequer more than Rs 52,000 crore yearly.

This prompted a rebuttal from Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar who rubbished the claim, adding that the increase in fuel prices had nothing to do with the guarantees. Petrol and diesel prices had been increased by roughly Rs 3 each recently.

Kumaraswamy made the comments at a programme in Bengaluru organised by the BJP to felicitate the JD(S) leader for landing a Union Ministry. He cited a saying of the Buddha that desire was the cause of misery.

“The State Congress government is struggling to fund its guarantees. This is why they’re robbing people and constantly increasing prices. In this way, the guarantees have become the reason for the hike in prices of all goods alongside petrol and diesel,” Kumaraswamy.

He also blamed “plotters” for the failure of the power sharing arrangement between the JD(S) and BJP back in 2006.

When asked about the allegations, Shivakumar denied them at Poornima Hall in Bengaluru. He made the remarks on the sidelines of the felicitation of National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) top performers from Parishrama Institute, which was founded by Congress MLA Pradeep Eshwar.

“They can make any number of allegations. There is no relation to our guarantees and price rise. We have been managing price rise in a prudent manner. The BJP (State) government had also increased prices. However, we didn’t raise prices to the extent that they did. Even if prices of (crude) oil were less, they kept hiking the prices (of petrol and diesel). We regulated it,” Shivakumar said.

“We noticed that neighnouring states were getting more business. If you look at it, other states are charging more for fuel. This is why we did it. Guarantees and price rise are unrelated. Our guarantees will continue,” he added.