Bengaluru, Apr 10 (Reporter) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday announced a statewide protest on April 17 against what he termed the Centre’s "double standards" on price rise, blaming the BJP-led Union government for pushing the common man to the brink with soaring fuel and commodity prices. Addressing a press conference at the KPCC headquarters here, Shivakumar said the protest will be held in all district headquarters and prominently at Freedom Park here, where it will be led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala is also expected to participate. "We will soon disclose the nature of protests at the district level. This agitation is against the Centre’s unjustified price hikes. The BJP must own responsibility," he told reporters in a press conference. Lashing out at BJP leaders R Ashok and Vijayendra Yediyurappa, Shivakumar accused them of selective outrage. "Do they only see milk price rise? Their so-called 'Janakrosha Yatra' is a protest against their own government at the Centre. The BJP’s gift to Karnataka is the hike in petrol, diesel, and LPG cylinder on the very day they hit the streets protesting inflation," he said. Shivakumar cited falling crude oil prices to challenge the hike in retail fuel prices. "Crude prices dropped by 4.23 percent on Thursday. The base price of petrol is Rs 42.60 per litre but the Centre is selling it at Rs 103. Diesel is at Rs 91 with nearly 60 percent tax. Who is looting the public?" he questioned. Responding to criticism over the milk price hike in Karnataka, Shivakumar said the move was to benefit farmers. "Despite the increase, Karnataka has the lowest milk prices in the country. In Gujarat, Delhi, Telangana and many other states, milk prices are much higher." He listed comparative rates from various states to justify the Karnataka government’s pricing. On other utility hikes, he argued that the increases were minimal. "The water tariff is nominally raised and garbage cess is lower than under the previous BJP regime. To tackle the burden of price rise, we’ve earmarked Rs 52,000 crore for guarantee schemes to protect the poor." Shivakumar also drew attention to the soaring costs of gold, mobile phones, tractors, and toll charges under the BJP regime. "Everything from gold (Rs 28,000 to Rs 92,000 per 10g), phones (Rs 10,000 to Rs 30,000), to tractors (Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh) has surged. Who controls these prices?" He also attacked the Centre’s banking policies, saying, "They are looting the people through deposit, withdrawal and cheque fees. Even Mallikarjun Kharge called it a scam." Responding to a statement allegedly made by Congress leader Basavaraj Rayareddy that Karnataka was "No 1 in corruption", Shivakumar said Rayareddy had denied making such a remark. "I will speak to him about it," he said. He dismissed the Contractors’ Association's complaint about delayed payments as procedural. "Let them approach the Lokayukta. We have released 10–20 percent payments so far. We don’t tolerate corruption." On allegations of kickbacks in a mining deal involving CM Siddaramaiah, he termed the charges "politically motivated." "No one can operate outside the law. These are false accusations.” Asked about JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy's claim of having documents against him, he said sarcastically, "Check with him when I should send trucks to collect the documents." Shivakumar also commented on the recent AICC convention in Ahmedabad, saying the focus was on empowering grassroots leaders and launching new welfare programmes. On changes in KPCC leadership, he clarified, "There’s no change in the President. Some office-bearers and district presidents will be appointed." He confirmed that AICC General Secretary would visit Karnataka on April 17 and that the state Congress would abide by the Centre's decision regarding the second airport in Bengaluru...////...