BJP mocks Karnataka govt’s ‘Freedom from Waste’ drive, demands freedom from potholes
Bengaluru: Karnataka BJP ridiculed the state government’s newly launched ‘Freedom from Waste’ campaign on Saturday, alleging that the state government had failed to address Bengaluru’s worsening pothole crisis and was focussing on publicity instead of public safety.
The criticism came in the backdrop of scheduled launch of ‘Freedom from Waste’ campaign near Esteem Mall in Bengaluru on Saturday by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda.
The campaign is aimed at improving waste management and cleanliness in the city.
Reacting to the initiative, senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition (LoP), R. Ashoka, questioned when the government would launch a ‘Just Fill Potholes Bengaluru’ campaign, saying Bengaluru residents deserved “freedom from potholes.”
“‘Just Clean Bengaluru’ is fine, but when will you launch the ‘Just Fill Potholes Bengaluru’ campaign? When will Bengaluru get freedom from potholes?” LoP Ashoka asked in a statement.
The senior BJP leader alleged that CM Shivakumar, who had served as Bengaluru Development Minister for the past three years before becoming Chief Minister of the state, had failed to improve the city’s road infrastructure despite spending thousands of crores on pothole repair works.
“While the garbage-cleaning campaign is welcome, does the government have any answer to the problem of potholes that are claiming lives on Bengaluru’s roads?” he asked.
Ashoka alleged that potholes become “death traps” during the monsoon, leading to accidents, injuries and loss of lives. He further claimed that motorists are forced to navigate around potholes, resulting in long traffic snarls, while two-wheeler riders continue to endure unsafe road conditions every day.
Accusing the government of prioritising publicity over governance, Ashoka said the government should stop staged ‘promotional campaigns’ on garbage cleaning and instead focus on filling potholes across the city.
“Bengaluru needs safe roads, not publicity campaigns,” he said, while stating that the government has failed the city.