The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party held protests across Karnataka, including in Bengaluru, on Wednesday, targeting the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government over the state's poor road conditions and the ongoing pothole problem. While leaders in the capital city staged demonstrations by filling potholes, protests in other parts of the state involved 'rasta roko' (road blockade) campaigns.
Leading the protest in Bengaluru's Banashankari, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka stated that roads across Karnataka have become "death traps" and are causing daily casualties and injuries. He argued that the demonstrations were a message to the government that it has "lost capability" and has become "bankrupt" due to its welfare schemes, forcing the public to repair their own roads. Ashoka also claimed that industries and IT companies were considering leaving Bengaluru because of the road issues.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday claimed that the pothole problem is a national issue, including in New Delhi, and that it was unfair to suggest it was unique to Karnataka.
Shivakumar, who is also the minister in charge of Bengaluru's development, said that the government was actively working to fix the potholes, with "about a thousand potholes" being filled daily in each of the city's five corporations.
He also hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing them of failing to maintain the roads while in power and now politicising the issue ahead of civic body polls.
In a sharp rebuttal to Shivakumar's comments, Ashoka urged him to focus on his responsibilities rather than comparing Bengaluru to other cities. "Please look at what you have done and what you can do. People have chosen you. You are in power to tell us what you have done, not about Modi," he said. Accusing the government of carrying out "temporary patchwork," he demanded the release of a ₹10,000 crore fund for proper road construction in the city.
The controversy intensified when an online trucking platform, BlackBuck, announced it would move its office out of Bengaluru's Outer Ring Road (ORR) due to commuting and road infrastructure issues. In response to the growing pressure, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has set a one-month deadline for authorities to ensure all potholes are fixed and the roads are in good condition.
Also read: Potholes national issue, only being fixed in B'luru: Shivakumar
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