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Bengaluru, Nov 24 (IANS) The Karnataka unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has attacked the Congress-led government in Karnataka over the sharp decline in foreign tourist arrivals to UNESCO World Heritage site Hampi.
Karnataka BJP president and MLA BY Vijayendra said on Monday, “Under this Congress-led government in Karnataka, Karnataka’s global identity is also being eroded. Hampi is not just another destination. It is the pride of Karnataka and a global heritage monument. Today, it has been abandoned by a government that cannot even protect its cultural treasures.”
“The number of foreign tourists to Hampi has declined from 20,080 last year to just 3,818 this year, an unprecedented decline of more than 80 per cent, due to growing security concerns, falling maintenance and a complete absence of infrastructure planning in one of the world’s most famous heritage sites.”
“A fall of this magnitude does not happen by chance,” he alleged. This happens when a government disappears from the ground and its leadership is busy fighting for the CM’s chair instead of fighting for the progress of Karnataka. While the CM and Deputy CM remain stuck in their internal power struggle, Karnataka is lagging behind on every front.
Vijayendra criticized, “Tourism has been neglected. Law and order has collapsed. Infrastructure has been neglected. Investments are slowing down. Farmers and youth have been ignored. This Congress government has completely failed our state.”
It may be recalled that a horrific incident – the gang rape of an Israeli tourist and an Indian home-stay owner while stargazing – was reported from Koppal district of Karnataka in March 2025.
One of the four tourists, an American citizen, was also attacked and pushed into the canal in the incident; He managed to get out. The incident had sparked outrage against the Congress-led government in the state.
The unfortunate incident happened on the night of March 6. Four of the occupants of the Heartland home – a 23-year-old, Daniel, from the US; a female tourist from Israel; And two Indians, Pankaj Rao Amrit Rao Patil from Nashik, Maharashtra and Bebash from Odisha – had taken rooms on rent.
Home Stay is located close to Tungabhadra left canal. The home-stay owner, a 29-year-old woman who came to Anegundi six years ago, ran two home stays in the area.
After dinner, the four guests went out to the Tungabhadra Dam complex to sit and look at the stars. They were singing and playing guitar at that place, when suddenly three persons came and asked for money. Earlier the attackers had asked where they would get petrol. The female home-stay owner asked them to go to nearby Sanapura village.
The accused demanded money. A hapless tourist from Odisha gave him Rs 20, but he demanded more and an altercation ensued. The accused beat up and attacked the tourists.
Later the accused pushed Daniel, Pankaj and Bebash into the canal. Daniel and Pankaj managed to come back. Helplessly swept away in the canal water; The next day his body was recovered near the hydro power park near Mallapura village.
The accused assaulted and raped the female home-stay owner. Later he also raped an Israeli citizen. The accused snatched Rs 9,000 in cash and a mobile phone from the home-stay owner.
–IANS
MKA/PGH