Tejasvi Surya Detained During Protest Against Metro Fare Hike in Bengaluru

BENGALURU, Feb 9: BJP MP and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) national president Tejasvi Surya was detained by police on Monday while staging a demonstration at Jayanagar Metro station, demanding affordable public transport in the city, officials said.

Surya led the protest against the recent hike in Metro fares, which were increased from Re one to Rs five depending on the distance. The revised fare structure has since been put on hold, which Surya said happened following the Centre’s intervention.

During the demonstration, the MP carried an empty trunk to symbolise what he termed as the “empty promises” of the state government. The protest also came in response to Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s remark that Surya was an “empty trunk” who remained active only on social media and not on the ground.

Speaking to reporters after being detained, Surya said, “Just because we are asking for affordable public transport and accountability, the government is resorting to arrest and detention. It is shameful.”

He alleged that instead of focusing on roads, infrastructure and improved civic amenities, the state government was targeting those raising public issues. Surya further said the Metro fare hike had been put on hold for the second time due to pressure from the Union government and demanded that the state government release a white paper on its economic condition. (Agencies)