BJP protests in Bengaluru over price hike; state party president BY Vijayendra, former CM BS Yediyurappa detained

NEW DELHI: Several senior BJP leaders, including Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra and former CM BS Yediyurappa, were detained by the police on Thursday during a protest against the Congress-led state government’s policies.

The demonstration, which took place at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Wednesday, was part of a larger agitation against rising prices and governance issues. BJP leaders, including CT Ravi, staged protests and were subsequently taken into custody.
BY Vijayendra on Tuesday took a sharp dig at the government’s schemes, claiming that the only guarantee the Congress has delivered in the past 20 months is a "price rise guarantee." He pointed out that despite prior knowledge of BJP’s protest, the government announced a Rs 2 hike in diesel prices, which he said would further increase vegetable costs. “Milk prices have been raised three times in the past two years, totaling a ₹9 per litre hike,” he added.
Union minister Prahlad Joshi is set to lead a ‘Janakrosha Yatre’ from April 7, protesting against the "unconstitutional" 4% reservation for Muslims in government contracts, alleged misuse of Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) funds, and price hikes.
Wednesday’s protest featured intense sloganeering, theatrical performances, and cultural expressions, including Yakshagana and folk singing. A widely appreciated animation video depicted CM Siddaramaiah as a teacher instructing ministers on the ABCDs of alleged scams. Protesters also displayed an effigy of the 10-headed demon king Ravana, each face featuring an image of the CM and his ministers.
Vijayendra compared Siddaramaiah’s leadership to that of "Aurangzeb, Hitler, and Napoleon," accusing him of "looting public wealth" and burdening people with inflation. “We will tour the state to oppose the government’s ‘darbaar’. Our protests will continue until these price hikes are reversed,” he said.