Ponnar justifies bus fare hike even as State BJP to protest tomorrow

Tamil Nadu BJP president Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan has said that the BJP would be protesting across the State on 24th January (tomorrow) against the increase in bus fare announced late last week by the State Government.

It is, however, significant that even as the BJP is gearing up to protest against the hike, senior BJP leader and Union Road Transport Minister Pon Radhakrishnan has supported the hike stating that such hikes were inevitable.

The AIADMK-led State Govt. said that it was forced to announce a steep 60% bus fare hike across all services as the buses operated by the State Road Transport Corporation weren’t netting enough profits.  People from all sections of the society have reacted with anger and desperation to the hike. They blamed the not-so-efficient modes of administration for the steep hike in fares.

Speaking to newsmen yesterday, Tamilisai said that the party would hold protests all over the State on Wednesday. Tamilisai, H. Raja and Vanathy Srinivasan would be heading the protests in Madurai, Krishnagiri and Erode (respectively), the party has announced and urged party cadres to hold protests in all areas against the fare hike.