BJP protests Karnataka bus fare and milk price hikes
The Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded the immediate withdrawal of increased bus fares and milk prices across the state.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held protests in Bengaluru and Kalaburagi against the Karnataka government's decision to increase milk prices and bus fares. According to reports from The Hindu, The News Mill and Urban Acres, the BJP has demanded an immediate rollback of these increases and the publication of full loss accounts for the transport corporations.
In Bengaluru, a BJP delegation visited the Majestic bus terminal on November 5 to voice opposition. The All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC) also condemned the hikes, stating that bus fares for the KSRTC, NWKRTC, and KKRTC have risen by 23 per cent, while BMTC fares have increased by 33 to 35 per cent. The union noted that milk prices were recently raised by Rs 4 per litre and curd by Rs 14 per litre.
In Kalaburagi, the BJP district unit planned a protest at the Central Bus Stand on Friday. Former MLA Dattatreya Patil Revoor and BJP State spokesperson Sudha Halkai accused the Congress government of shifting the financial burden of guarantee schemes onto the public through price hikes of essential commodities and services.
State BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra stated that the fare increase is an additional burden on poorer residents, including students, patients, and workers. He alleged the government is imposing higher costs after increasing prices for milk, curd, and electricity.
The BJP has threatened to intensify protests across the state if the decisions are not reconsidered.
The revised fares for KSRTC and BMTC services were scheduled to take effect from Wednesday night. In Bengaluru, the minimum ticket price is set to rise from Rs 6 to Rs 10, while the maximum KSRTC fare will increase by Rs 9.