Karnataka polls: Rahul Gandhi’s cycle, bel gadi ki sawari to oppose Modi’s petrol price hike

After his bicycle ride, Rahul stood on a bullock cart and addressed a massive gathering of people in Kolar's Malur.

Bengaluru, May 8: How do you protest against astronomical fuel price hike in the recent times? Ride a bicycle or a bullock cart if you are in a rural area like Congress president Rahul Gandhi was on Monday. As a mark of protest against the Narendra Modi government's decision to increase petrol and diesel prices, Rahul was seen riding a bicycle and afterwards hopping into a bullock cart in Karnataka's Kolar district where he was campaigning for the Congress.

The election campaigning of top national leaders in Karnataka is full of photo ops and both Rahul and PM Modi are not only delivering impassionate speeches against their opponents but making sure every move they make is captured by shutterbugs.

After his bicycle ride, Rahul stood on a bullock cart and addressed a massive gathering of people in Kolar's Malur. The Gandhi scion alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre wanted to take money from the common man to give it to its "rich friends". He demanded an answer from the BJP and asked it to tell the people why they were not reducing the price of petrol in the country.

"The petrol prices are decreasing across the world, but in India prices are still high," Rahul said. "Earlier in the international market, the price was USD 140 per barrel, now it is USD 70 per barrel. So lakhs of crores of money is being saved by the government. Where is the money going?" he asked.

"Why are you not saying to people that you don't want to put GST (Goods and Services Tax) on petrol and diesel? You want to take away money from common man and want to give it to your five or ten industrialist friends," he said.

"You want to take money from the pockets of those driving scooter, truck, bus and other vehicles in the country and want to give it your rich friends," the Congress chief added.

As Rahul enjoyed his bicycle and bullock cart ride, the irony is not missed as he was flanked by a large number of party workers and security personnel giving him a protective shield, unlike any commoner.

The polling for the 224-member Assembly in Karnataka will be held on Saturday (May 12). The results of the highly-contested elections will be declared next week on May 15.