BJP MP Raghavendra ridicules Congress rally at Haveri

Taking strong exception to the Congress government’s convention in Haveri to mark the completion of 1,000 days in office, B.Y. Raghavendra, Shivamogga MP, remarked that the Congress party’s rule in the State was a period of corruption and maladministration, as well as moral and financial bankruptcy.

In a press conference in Shivamogga on Saturday, Mr. Raghavendra expressed that the rally held in Haveri was not an event to mark the government’s achievements. “Considering the government’s failures, it should be seen as an event to mark people’s suffering. The government has failed on all fronts. It has failed to implement its promises, corruption has been rampant, and there has been no development since the party came to power. Holding an event at this juncture is like subjecting the people to embarrassment,” he said.

The party assured the youth of financial assistance under the Yuvanidhi. However, of the total 3.79 lakh applicants, only 2.9 lakh people have been receiving the benefit. The dues for Gruhalakshmi have not been cleared even after the issue was raised during the Belagavi session. The transport corporations have not received ₹4,800 crore owed to them in lieu of the free travel facility for women under the Shakti scheme. Additionally, after introducing the Shakti scheme, the transport corporation stopped its services in over 1,200 rural routes, he alleged.

Between May 2023 and February 2026, as many as 2,809 farmers in Karnataka committed suicide. “Interestingly, more than 300 of these farmers are from Haveri district, where the Congress chose to hold its rally. On the other hand, contractors have not received payment for the work they completed. The total dues for the contractors exceed ₹37,000 crore,” he stated. The BJP MP also demanded that the State government release a White Paper on the expenses incurred for development projects and the outstanding loans.

Agumbe tunnel road

In response to a question about the proposed tunnel project at Agumbe Ghat (NH 206), Mr. Raghavendra stated that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had floated a tender for the preparation of the detailed project report. The project would include the widening of the existing road as well as the tunnel road. “By utilising advanced technology, the project can be implemented without causing much damage to nature,” he added.