Karnataka fuel price hike: Congress says ‘need money for development’, BJP jibes with ‘khatakhat loot’

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Karnataka's State Minister for Commerce and Industries MB Patil has justified the decision to raise fuel prices, stating it aims to support the state's guarantee schemes and development projects.Patil emphasized that while fuel rates have increased in Karnataka, they are still comparatively lower than in other states, News18 reported.Moreover, the Karnataka government immediately increased petrol and diesel prices from Saturday.Also Read: Karnataka hikes petrol and diesel prices by ₹3 per litre. Check new rate, other detailsPetrol prices have risen by ₹3 per litre, reaching ₹102.84 in Bengaluru, up from the previous rate of ₹99.84.

Similarly, diesel prices have increased by ₹3.02 per litre, now costing ₹88.95, up from ₹85.93.The opposition BJP in Karnataka is set to stage a protest on Monday over the petrol price hike.Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said this is the ‘Khatakhat’ loot model of Karnataka Congress and Congress Party. Poonawalla told ANI, “Instead of depositing Rs.

1 lakh in women's accounts, they are stealing the money from the common man... On one hand, the Congress party talks about inflation.

On the other hand, it increases the prices and burdens the common man in its states." Also Read: Karnataka bans release of ’Hamare Baarah’ for 2 weeks, citing potential communal tensionBJP leader BY Vijayendra lambasted the Congress government's decision, stating that the Karnataka Congress government has been talking a lot about guarantee schemes.He added, “Desperate CM Siddaramaiah is not able to give any new programs in Karnataka simply because of their guarantees. After the Lok Sabha elections, they have now increased the price of petrol by ₹3 and diesel by ₹3.5.