JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy hits out at the Congress for his criticism of the fuel price hike

Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel HD Kumaraswamy during the Janarondige Janata Dal convention in Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency, Mysuru on Sunday (May 17). | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Union Heavy Industries and Steel Minister HD Kumaraswamy, at the Congress conference for criticizing the Center for the recent hike in petrol and diesel prices, raised the question of how the Congress government in the state had increased taxes on a number of items to mobilize funds for the implementation of five guarantee schemes.

Attending the Janarondige Janata Dal convention in Chamundeshwari constituency here on Sunday (May 17), Mr Kumaraswamy alleged that the Congress government had increased taxes on a number of items including electricity, bus fare, liquor and registration fee for land transactions.

“On one hand, the government is trying to mislead people by saying that it is providing guarantees, while on the other, it is increasing prices even further. Let the Congress government publish the list of how many times it has imposed taxes and increased prices,” he said.

He said the center was forced to increase the prices of petrol and diesel due to the global rise in oil prices due to the war that the US and Israel have been waging against Iran for the last 60 days. Despite the increase, he said petrol prices in India are much lower than Singapore, Hong Kong, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

“If the Congress party was in power in such a difficult situation, what would it do?” asked Mr. Kumaraswamy.

He probed the Sadhana Samavesha planned by the Congress party in Tumakuru on May 19, citing the reported involvement of a large number of police officials in criminal activities during the Congress regime.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said that a large number of helpless people gather outside his house every day and he provides all the help he can. “I am not helping distressed people for publicity. Congress leaders think people in the state are living peacefully because of guarantees. This is wrong. If Congress leaders come near my house every day, they will understand the condition of people,” he said.

The JD(S) leader, who rehearsed most of his speech on the Congress government, expressed confidence that the JD(S) would win 75 seats in the next assembly elections when the people of the state would give their blessings for the coalition government.

JD(S) youth wing leader Nikhil Kumaraswamy has already toured about 70 constituencies in the state to strengthen the JD(S), which is in alliance with the BJP.

‘HDK for CM’

While Mr. Nikhil said in his speech that people across the state were hoping for the return of the “short-lived” but “golden rule” of Mr. Kumaraswamy, other JD(S) leaders openly called for the return of the Union minister as Karnataka Chief Minister.

GD Harish Gowda, Hunsur MLA and former minister SR Mahesh openly supported Mr Kumaraswamy’s return as “Chief Minister of Karnataka to head a coalition government in 2028”.

It may also be mentioned here that the Janarondige Janata Dal convention was held in the absence of JD(S) senior leader GT Deve Gowda, who represents the constituency in the assembly.

Published – 17 May 2026 19:54 IST