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A week of protests by Opposition over bus fare hike
Several Opposition parties, including the DMK, on Sunday announced protests condemning the state government for increasing bus fare in the state this week.
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Chennai
In a statement on Sunday, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and DMK working president MK Stalin said that the DMK will hold demonstration in every district headquarter on January 27 and concerned district functionaries along with cadres will participate in the agitations.
Stating that the increase in the bus fare will largely affect the common people, Stalin said that it is a clear indication the government is unable to tackle the financial crisis and it shows its inefficiency.
“The DMK strongly condemning such move will hold demonstration in all the district headquarters on January 27,” he added.
Similarly, Left parties have decided to highlight the people’s plight by staging protests. R Mutharasan, state secretary, in a statement said, “At a time, when the common and poor people are reeling in poverty, the price hike has put huge burden on the poor. So, it is high time all the Opposition parties join hand to stage protests on January 27.” The government should rollback the hike immediately, he demanded.
G Ramakrishnan, state secretary of CPM, also condemned the government over the steep hike and announced protests and dharna across the state on January 22.
The Pattali Makkal Katchi too said it will stage a protest on January 25. Party’s founder-president S Ramadoss said, “The bus hike is unpardonable, as the government doubled the price. But, the same government has increased the salary of MLAs, which is reprehensible.”
VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan announced an agitation on January 23. “The government fare revision has doubled the ticket prices. But, the reasons, it stated, are unacceptable. Since, more number of common people travel in government buses, there should be a rollback,” he demanded.
MDMK general secretary Vaiko, who had joined hands with the DMK after several years, too announced that his party would participate in the protest demonstration to be organised by the DMK on January 27.
Tamilisai hits out, Radhakrishnan pats government on fare hike
BJP state unit president Tamilisai Soundararajan, who was up in arms against the bus fare revision effected by the state-run transport corporations, questioned the rationale behind the pay revision for the MLAs. Her announcement of an agitation on January 24 is in contra to her party senior leader and Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, who had defended the revision of bus fare.
Her reaction is also in sequel to Thambidurai’s ridicule on the BJP’s performance in the RK Nagar bypoll where the only candidate other than winner TTV Dinakaran to save deposit was the ruling party’s candidate E Madhusudhanan. Soundararajan wondered as to whether the state government had forgotten the severe financial crisis the state was reeling under when it passed Bills in the Assembly to nearly double the salaries of the legislators.
“The bus strike had come to an end only recently bringing the much-needed relief to the public that rely on state-run buses. It is inappropriate to increase the bus fare at this juncture. It would compound the woes of the already burdened passengers,” she said.
She announced that her party would stage an agitation on January 24 to condemn the hike in ticket prices.
Meanwhile, party’s senior leader Pon Radhakrishnan surprised many by welcoming the increase in the bus fare, while speaking to reporters in Hosur. “I welcome the hike in bus fare. For six long years, the fares were not increased due to political reasons. Now the government has been forced to take the decision thinking beyond vote bank politics,” he said.
On Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s visits, the BJP leader said “The DMK has been lowering its stature by politicising the Governor’s goodwill efforts.”
Deputy CM defends fare hike
Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam on Sunday asserted that despite a hike in bus fare, the rates are still lesser in Tamil Nadu compared to other states. “The government incurs loss even after increasing the fare,” he pointed out.
Speaking to reporters at the Coimbatore International Airport, he said that in a democracy anyone can start a new party and those parties will not affect the AIADMK. “Only their actions will define people’s acceptance. Anyone can start new parties, but it will in no way affect the AIADMK,” he said.
OPS also questioned the fate of TTV Dinakaran, who is facing dissent even from MLAs, who were in support of him.
On the controversy surrounding the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, the Deputy Chief Minister refused to comment citing that the issue is still under investigation by the judicial commission.
To a query on the death of medical student from Tirupur in a mysterious manner in New Delhi, OPS said that the case will be pursued legally after receiving the post-mortem report.
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