BJP leader Bhanuprakash dies during protest against hike in petrol and diesel prices.

BJP leader and former MLC M. B. Bhanuprakash died of cardiac arrest.

here on Monday during a protest organised by his party against the hike in petrol and diesel prices in Karnataka.

Bhanuprakash (69), who had earlier served as the party’s state vice-president and district president, led the protest here and addressed the workers.

“He collapsed after suffering cardiac arrest while getting into his car,” a police source said. “He was rushed to a nearby hospital but could not be saved.”

Fuel prices increased by nearly Rs 3 after hike

The protest by the opposition BJP was called after the ruling Congress government revised sales tax to 29.84 per cent and 18.44 per cent, upping the rates of petrol and diesel by Rs 3 and Rs 3.05, respectively, across Karnataka.
In a notification issued by the Finance Department, the government has hiked sales tax on gasoline by 3.92 percentage points, from 25.92 to 29.84 per cent. On diesel, the hike is 4.1 percentage points, from 14.34 to 18.44 per cent. This notification will come into force with immediate effect.

BJP called a state-wide protest.

It is pertinent to note that BJP state unit president B.Y. Vijayendra said on Saturday that the party would hold a state-wide protest on Monday (June 17) against the government’s decision, which led to a rise in petrol and diesel prices.

Speaking to the media, the BJP state president said, “We urge the Chief Minister to withdraw this decision immediately. Tomorrow, we have organised protests across the state, and we will not keep quiet until the hike is revoked.”

CM Siddaramaiah defends the hike.

Meanwhile, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah defended his government’s decision, saying that the fuel price was still lower than in nearby states like Maharashtra and others. Earlier in the day, he alleged that the state faced injustice by the BJP-led NDA government in its share of central funds and GST devolution and matters relating to the release of funds for state projects, and he dared the BJP to hold protests over this.

Siddaramaiah said crude oil prices were ruling at USD 113 per barrel at some stage during the tenure of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, but presently, they are at USD 82.35. In 2015, the crude oil price was USD 52 per barrel, which decreased further in the next year, he claimed.

“The Government of Karnataka has increased VAT on petrol to 29.84 per cent and on diesel to 18.44 per cent. Even after this hike, our state’s taxes on fuel remain lower than most South Indian states and similar economy-sized states like Maharashtra. In Maharashtra, the VAT on petrol is 25 per cent plus Rs 5.12 additional tax, and on diesel, it is 21 per cent. Karnataka’s revised rates are still more affordable,” CM Siddaramaiah said.

Who was Bhanuprakash?

MB Bhanuprakash, a senior BJP leader and former MLC, died of a cardiac arrest on Monday during a protest by the party against the hike in petrol and diesel prices in Karnataka.

Bhanuprakash was 69 years old. He had served as the BJP’s state vice president and district president. He led the protest in Karnataka’s Shivamogga and addressed the workers before collapsing Bhanuprakash was one of the veteran leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, whose presence in Karnataka was a big bet for the Bharatiya Janata Party.

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