DMK, Oppn parties to protest today

Chennai: Rejecting the downward cut in bus fares announced by Tamil Nadu Government as an “eye wash”, a multi-party meeting chaired by DMK Working President M.K. Stalin on Sunday decided to escalate their protests by holding agitations across the state on Monday demanding “complete rollback” of bus fare hike.

One of the resolutions passed at the meeting also urged the state government to release all students, youth and politicians, who were arrested following their protest against the bus fare hike in various parts of the state. The meeting also condemned in strongest possible term the appointment of an expert committee by the government to review the fares periodically.

“The meeting unanimously decided to demand that the Tamil Nadu Government completely withdraw the bus fare hike that came into effect last week. To press the demand, DMK and its alliance partners have decided hold agitations across the state on Monday. The meeting also appealed to people to participate in large numbers,” another resolution said.

“We have demanded full rollback of increase in bus fares. Tomorrow we will stage agitation pressing our demand,” Stalin told reporters after the meeting.

The state has been witnessing protests ever since the government hiked bus fares on January 19. Another resolution demanded that the government withdraw cases filed against those who had taken part in the agitations and release the arrested persons.

CPI(M) leader and former MLA A Soundararajan and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President, Su Thirunavukarasar were among the leaders who took part in the meeting.

DMK had on Saturday held protest in Chennai demanding that bus fare hike be rolled back immediately. At the protest, Stalin had announced that the party and its partners would intensify the struggle against the state government after a meeting on Sunday.