Bengaluru, February 25 (NationPress) - The Karnataka BJP has urged Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Minister Priyank Kharge to make road development and upkeep a priority in order to mitigate the alarming number of daily fatalities, asking him to focus on this issue over other matters.

The party pointed out that the deplorable state of roads is leading to a tragic loss of 31 lives each day across the state.

Opposition Leader in the Legislative Council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, criticized the state government for its persistent neglect of essential responsibilities, highlighting the lack of new road projects and insufficient maintenance of existing infrastructures throughout Karnataka.

Referring to official data, Narayanaswamy stressed that the daily road accident toll of 31 deaths is directly linked to poor road conditions. He challenged the government’s effectiveness and urged the minister, known for his discussions on Panchayat Raj, to tackle these pressing issues.

"Minister Priyank Kharge should give precedence to this matter over others. If he cannot deliver results, the Chief Minister should consider asking for his resignation," Narayanaswamy insisted.

He claimed that since the Congress took power, several districts have not seen a single kilometre of new road constructed or existing roads repaired. He declared that thousands of kilometres remain in disrepair while Minister Kharge diverts his attention to unrelated topics.

According to departmental records, Karnataka boasts a total of 198,657.58 km of rural roads; however, only 297 km have been newly built. Narayanaswamy questioned when Minister Kharge would commit to addressing the construction and rehabilitation of these vital roads.

"You have introduced the Shakti scheme despite the terrible state of rural roads. The lack of infrastructure has led to the withdrawal of bus services from 1,800 villages. What good is the Shakti scheme under these conditions? How can it be justified? How will rural areas thrive, and where will women catch buses if they have to travel to towns just to access free travel?" Narayanaswamy queried.

He highlighted that in Kharge’s constituency of Chittapur, which has 564 rural roads, no new roads have been built. He demanded transparency regarding the allocation and usage of funds, noting that Rs 5,000 crore is under the management of the Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board, and asked for details on its expenditure.

Narayanaswamy questioned Kharge’s ability to manage the department, suggesting that if he is unable to fulfill his duties, he should step aside for another to take over. He further remarked that those who cannot perform their roles often make irresponsible comments.

"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, is this minister (Priyank Kharge) your choice? Why aren’t you holding him accountable? If he fails to perform, you share the blame. You must answer the people regarding where the funds have gone. It is unjust to the rural populace. Consider demanding his resignation and appointing a capable successor," he urged.

In response to a question from a journalist concerning the use of Urdu in a Health Department invitation, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy remarked that it is a personal decision for Dinesh Gundu Rao. He challenged the government’s official language policy, alleging that Rao lacks the determination to enforce Kannada as mandatory.

Addressing the protests for job opportunities in Dharwad, Narayanaswamy asserted that there are hundreds of thousands of government positions unfilled. He questioned the government’s legitimacy and claimed that despite assertions of a budget shortfall, there is no lack of funds for corruption.