Kumaraswamy’s swearing-in ceremony (Arijit Sen/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)The HD Kumaraswamy led Karnataka government where the Congress party is a major alliance partner, had increased the rate of tax on petrol to 32 per cent from 30 per cent and diesel to 21 per cent from 19 per cent, during its maiden budget in July.
As a result of this, the petrol price was expected to rise by Rs 1.14 per litre and diesel price by Rs 1.12 per litre.
Hence when the Congress party announced a Bharat Bandh on Monday (10 September), some might have presumed that the Karnataka unit of the party would desist from participation.
The party though seems to have risked being accused of double -standards and has openly urged its workers to participate in the Bandh protesting the fuel price hike.
The party account also put up a video of its workers protesting against the hike in the streets of Bengaluru.
According to the Congress, 21 Opposition parties are taking part in the protest. Among them are Janata Dal (Secular), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party (SP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Communist Party of India (CPM), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
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