Bengaluru, November 5: The BJP staged protests in Karnataka on Thursday against higher bus fares and Nandini milk prices, demanding that the Congress-led state government reverse the fare increase. The demonstrations followed the party’s call for protests at district headquarters across the state.
At Bengaluru’s Majestic bus station, Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka joined BJP legislators and party workers in a demonstration. Protesters held placards, and party leaders handed roses to commuters. In Mangaluru, BJP workers gathered outside the party office in Kodialbail to protest the milk price and KSRTC fare increases.
The protests came after Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh announced revised fares for Karnataka’s four state-run bus operators. Bengaluru’s BMTC fares rose by 33% to 35%, while KSRTC fares increased by about 23% on average. The Karnataka Milk Federation had separately raised the price of Nandini milk by ₹8 per litre.
Ashoka argued that the government could have avoided the fare hike by clearing what he said were outstanding dues to the transport corporations. Suresh cited higher diesel prices, staff costs and more expensive spare parts, saying the revision was needed to ease the financial strain on the operators. Ashoka said the BJP would raise the issue both inside and outside the Legislature.