Ballari: No plans to raise bus fares, says CM Siddaramaiah

Ballari: There are currently no plans to increase bus fares in the state, said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday.

Speaking at Jindal Airport in the district, he said that this year, Rs 65,000 crore needs to be allocated for guarantee schemes. The price hike in petrol and diesel was made for the development of the state, he explained.

Over the last ten years, petrol prices have increased from Rs 72 to Rs 100 by the central government’s intervention. The current increase is solely for the state’s development and not for any other purpose. “We are not utilising this amount for the guarantee schemes,” he emphasized.

He mentioned that a meeting was held with the Education Department and the Department of Women and Child Development regarding the protest by Anganwadi workers against the introduction of LKG and UKG in government schools.

He criticized the central government for reducing the share of tax distribution, causing an injustice of Rs 1.87 lakh crore. He questioned if any MP had spoken out about this previously.

He pointed out that even after six months, no one had spoken about providing relief for drought in the state. Additionally, funds have not been provided for the development of Bengaluru and the Upper Bhadra Project. When D.K. Suresh raised these issues, he was accused of dividing the nation, Siddaramaiah said.