Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy slams Karnataka governement for high taxes, defends Centre

HD Kumaraswamy, a union minister and the president of the JD(S) state, charged on Saturday that the Karnataka state government was "burdening the common man" with hefty taxes. "By raising taxes in numerous areas, the state administration has been burdening the average citizen for the past two years. In an address to the media, Kumaraswamy stated, "That is the reason we are protesting and demanding that the people receive relief."

Kumaraswamy defended the central government's stance in response to the Congress party's criticism of it over the growing costs of petrol and LPG. "The national government is coming under fire from Congress over the cost of LPG and gasoline. The average person won't be impacted by the rise in petrol and diesel costs. "The burden is on the companies," he stated.

Additionally, he contrasted the rates now with those under the UPA administration. "In the UPA government, the LPG gas cylinder was Rs1240, but now even after increasing it by Rs50, it is Rs850," he stated.