Reduction a pittance, ploy to cheat people, say PMK and Left parties

Founder-president of PMK S Ramadoss, in a statement, said, “The government is trying to cheat people by saying that it has reduced bus fare. Reducing five paise to 10 paise per km is not acceptable.” The transport department just reduced three to seven per cent in the fare, he added. 

Pointing out that even the fare was reduced just by one rupee in city buses, Ramadoss said, “This is also an indication that the reduction is ranging only from four to 20 per cent.” He urged the government not to cheat people and take necessary measures to strengthen the transport department.

Similarly, R Mutharasan, state secretary of CPI, said, “The party cadres will participate in the all party protests on January 29 to condemn the government for hiking the bus fare. Even though the government has reduced the fare slightly, it will not serve any purpose.” He demanded the government for a complete rollback of new fare revision.

Naam Thamizhar Katchi chief Seeman strongly hit out at the government. “What the government has done is unfair. Slashing bus fare by two paise and 10 paise is like begging. The transport department should immediately withdraw the new fare system.” 

VCK has also announced its participation in the protests. “We will join hands with other opposition parties to stage protests against the government demanding rollback of fare hike,” said a party functionary. 

The CPM already announced that they would stage continuous protests including road blockades. G Ramakrishnan, state secretary of CPM, said, “It is mere eyewash. The government reduced very meagre paise from the hike in the bus fare. Our protest  will continue.”