BJP Workers Stage Protest in Hubballi Over Alleged Neglect in Housing Ceremony
In a significant political development, BJP workers organized a dharna at Durgad Bail in Hubballi on Saturday, strongly condemning what they termed as deliberate negligence towards BJP elected representatives during the state government's house distribution ceremony. The protestors expressed their frustration over the exclusion of key BJP figures from the event, which they claimed was conducted with a partisan approach.
Allegations of Protocol Violations and Political Bias
The protesting BJP workers alleged that the state government organized the distribution programme for houses constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in a manner resembling a Congress party rally. They specifically highlighted the violation of established protocol by failing to invite Union Minister Pralhad Joshi and other BJP legislators to the official ceremony. This exclusion, according to the protestors, demonstrated the Congress government's disregard for bipartisan cooperation and proper governmental procedures.
Financial Criticisms and Accusations of Misleading Practices
Deputy Leader of the Opposition Arvind Bellad launched a scathing criticism of the government's approach to the housing distribution programme. He accused the administration of pouring excessive funds into the event primarily for publicity purposes. Bellad further claimed that to artificially inflate attendance numbers, poor rural residents were transported to the venue with offers of Rs 1,000 each, questioning the genuine intent behind the government's welfare measures.
Bellad contrasted the current administration's performance with that of the previous BJP government, noting that during their tenure, then Minister V Somanna had conducted groundbreaking ceremonies for an impressive 1.3 lakh houses intended for economically disadvantaged families. However, since the Congress government assumed power, only 42,000 houses have been completed, with officials citing financial constraints as the primary reason for the slowdown.
"If the Congress government truly cared about uplifting the poor, they would prioritize completing all the housing projects initiated during our tenure and ensure their distribution to genuinely needy families," Bellad asserted. "Instead, their actions suggest they are more interested in political publicity than substantive welfare work."
Further Allegations of Political Manipulation
MLA Mahesh Tenginakai leveled additional accusations against the Congress government, claiming they were misleading the public by presenting BJP-initiated housing schemes as their own accomplishments. He alleged that a disproportionate number of houses were allocated to minority communities for what he described as political appeasement, while houses originally meant for economically weaker sections were being diverted to supporters of MLA Prasad Abbayya.
Tenginakai also revealed that the event's scheduling had been changed three to four times to accommodate the participation of prominent Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Siddaramaiah. More significantly, he criticized the deliberate timing of the ceremony to coincide with Union Minister Pralhad Joshi's foreign trip, ensuring his unavoidable absence and further violating protocol norms.
Protest Escalation and Police Intervention
Following the initial dharna, BJP leaders attempted to march toward the housing distribution event on Mantur Road as part of their protest demonstration. Police authorities intervened by erecting barricades at Shah Bazaar to prevent the procession from proceeding further. Several protesters who sat on the road in defiance were subsequently detained by police personnel.
The detained individuals were transported using police vehicles and transport buses before being released on the premises of Rambhapuri Kalyana Mantapa in Vidyanagar. This police action highlighted the escalating tensions between the protesting BJP workers and law enforcement authorities during the politically charged event.
The incident underscores the deepening political rift in Karnataka regarding implementation and credit for central government housing schemes, with both major parties accusing each other of politicizing welfare initiatives meant for economically disadvantaged citizens.
