Motorcycle rally by JDS against hike in milk and bus fares

In protest against the hikes in milk and curd prices and bus fares implemented by the Karnataka government, workers of the JDS (Janata Dal Secular), along with supporters of Gurmitkal MLA Sharanagowda Kandakur, held a motorcycle rally in Yadgir. According to a report by The Hindu, hundreds of workers and supporters joined the rally held on Thursday.

The protest was led by JDS district unit president Subhashchandra Katkati, former Zilla Panchayat member Lakshman Reddy Ampur, and former CMC chairman Nagaratna Ampur. The rally commenced from the new bus terminus. During the demonstration, workers passed through areas such as Basaswar Ganj Circle, Chakrakatta, Gandhi Chowk, Kanak Chowk, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Chowk, and Lal Bahadur Shastri Chowk. Finally, the rally reached Subhash Chandra Bose Chowk, where protesters registered their dissent by raising slogans against the state government for one hour.

Addressing the gathering, party leaders stated that the state is facing serious problems due to a long-running drought and lack of rainfall, which has caused heavy crop losses to farmers. While the general public is already struggling with drinking water shortages and lack of basic amenities, the state government has directly hit farmers and the common man by recklessly increasing the prices of essential commodities and public transport. Subhashchandra Katkati demanded that the state government immediately withdraw the hike in milk, curd, and bus fares so that it remains affordable for daily commuters and families.

During this, Katkati also targeted Home Minister Priyanka Kharge. Kharge had addressed Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy as a 'village fool', against which Katkati said that Kharge has insulted the rural voters who elected her from the Gurmitkal assembly constituency in the past. He added that people will teach Kharge a lesson at the right time. In this context, party workers wore T-shirts with the text 'Yes, we are village fools! So what?'. Nagaratna Ampur also said that they are village farmers, and unlike those raised in cities, they do not insult rural people.

At the conclusion of this protest, workers also submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Secretary of the state government through the Deputy Commissioner's office.