Chief minister Siddaramaiah on Monday pinned the blame for the recent fuel price hike on the GST regime , saying it had left the state government with very few options for additional resource mobilisation except tapping autofuels even as the BJP leaders protested taking to streets including on bullock carts, and trucking organisations threatening statewide strikes.

“The Central Government collects GST and taxes from sources like Income Tax, Central Excise Duty, etc. The state government has no source except stamp duty and registration charges, motor vehicle taxes, sales tax on petrol, diesel and excise duty on alcoholic beverages,” he said.

The price hike, the CM said, would generate about Rs 3,000 crore, all of which would go into people's welfare programmes, unlike in the BJP era, where he alleged, 40% of money went into leaders’ pockets.

Earlier in the day, leader of opposition R Ashoka led a protest on a bullock cart in Bengaluru’s Freedom Park against the government’s move.

Speaking at the protest, state party president BY Vijayendra said the protests would continue till the government rolled back the hike.

The Congress , he said, had hiked fuel prices as it was frustrated with its single-digit tally in the Lok Sabha polls despite winning the assembly polls last year in the state.

Petrol prices have been increased by Rs 3 per litre, reaching Rs 102.84 in Bengaluru from Saturday, up from the previous rate of Rs 99.84. Similarly, diesel prices have increased by Rs 3.02 per litre, now costing Rs 88.95, up from Rs 85.93. The Congress regime insists that the hike was necessary to fund the state’s guarantee programmes and development projects.

Citizens, however, are in an uproar, with some trucker organisations saying they would organise protests across the state in retaliation.

Federation of Karnataka Lorry Owners’ Association president C Naveen Reddy said the price hike would mean truckers’ salaries would have to be increased to absorb the costs.

“This will drive up the prices of everything, even essentials like milk and vegetables,” he said.

The association plans to meet on Tuesday to decide on its next move, he added.