Chennai: Congress and MDMK on Sunday lent their support to the DMK’s statewide agitation protesting against the steep hike in bus fares across the board on January 27.
In separate statements, Tamil Nadu Congress chief Su. Thirunavukarasar and MDMK general secretary Vaiko strongly opposed the state government’s move to increase bus fares and demanded an immediate rollback.
DMK Working President M.K. Stalin had on Saturday, while voicing his protest, announced that his party would hold demonstrations across the state on January 27 on the issue of bus fare hike and also sought the support of coalition partners. Thirunavukarasar said the increase in bus fare announced by the state government is very steep and almost 60 percent increase over the fares prevailing earlier and demanded its rollback.
“Passengers who paid Rs 235 from Chennai to Tiruchy earlier are now being forced to pay Rs 372. Fares to Tirunelveli and Nagercoil from Chennai too have been increased steeply to Rs 695 and Rs 778,” the former union minister said in the statement.
Responding to Stalin’s call, the Congress has decided to attend the protest, Thirunavukarasar said, “I urge Congress cadre across districts to participate in large numbers in the protest against the bus fare hike called by the DMK,” he said. In his statement, Vaiko said the state government’s argument that the hike was necessitated due to the increase in diesel prices cannot be accepted since the price of crude oil has seen 52 percent dip since 2011 when the bus fares were hiked for the last time.
“Tamil Nadu Government increased bus fares by 60 percent in 2011 and now it has increased fares for the second time. People will have to suffer more since the bus fare hike would result in an increase in prices of essential commodities. The MDMK will participate in the protest called by DMK”, Vaiko said.
Angry demos against bus fare hike in state
The steep hike in bus fares by the Transport department on Friday has provoked anger among the public and Sunday saw many such protest demonstrations in several parts of the State.
With daily wage workers being the worst affected due to the move, they staged a road-roko near Dindigul asking the government to bring down the fares. Chengam in Tiruvannamalai, Thanjavur and Tiruvallur districts also witnessed protests on Sunday.
The daily wage workers who did not carry money, according to the revised slab held similar protests in Chennai on Saturday. The passengers of a bus bound from Kannagi Nagar to Broadway Bus Terminus had to get down as the verbal brawl turned into a protest.
Opposition parties, including CPI (M), PMK and DMK also announced protests at all district headquarters on January 22, 25 and 27 respectively.
However, Transport Minister, M.R. Vijayabhaskar addressing the media said there was no chance of bringing down the fares. With government transport corporations struggling to overcome losses and finding it difficult to even pay dues to its employees, Tamil Nadu Government on Friday announced a steep hike in government and private bus fares ranging from 20 percent to 55 percent.
