Parties in no mood to give up protests

According to the party leaders, the government has been asked immediately to rollback the bus fare revision and drop cases against agitators across the state. 

R Mutharasan, state secretary of the CPI unit, said, “By hiking the bus fare, the state government has burdened the common people. However, after stern protests by opposition parties, the government buckled under pressure and made a revision, in which it has reduced the fare merely ranging from two paise, five paise and one rupee and this is completely unacceptable.” He added that the party would discuss with its allies and continue to agitate in the coming days. 

Similarly, G Ramakrishnan, state secretary of the CPM, said that they would hold demonstration after consulting with other parties. “After bus fare hike, all the opposition parties have come together and a new joint movement has been formed. So, we will hold talks with the movement leaders about continuing with the protests,” he said and urged the government to withdraw the fare hike completely. 

“The government has insulted the people by reducing the fare and such revision will not serve any purpose. To compensate the loss in the transport department, the government should not use poor people as a tool,” he noted. VCK, which held protests across the city, has also announced further protests. 

“The VCK headed by party chief Thol Thirumavalavan on Monday staged protests in the city with its allies. However, the party will hold a series of protests,” said a party functionary.