BJP MP Tejasvi Surya detained while protesting against proposed Namma Metro fare hike in Bengaluru

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Tejasvi Surya was detained and later released by police near Jayanagar metro station in Bengaluru on 9 February; Here he tried to stage another protest against the ruling Congress government in Karnataka for the proposed hike in Namma Metro fares.

In an X post after his release, Tejasvi Surya criticized the Karnataka government for allegedly ‘deteriorating’ his finances. He asked Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to restore cash support to Bengaluru’s Namma Metro.

“Arresting me will not silence me! It is shameful that the Congress government arrested me for revealing the truth: that this is a ‘Khali Trunk’ Government. The financial situation of Karnataka is deteriorated and citizens are paying the price for it through rising Metro fares and rising costs. No more excuses. The Prime Minister should present a White Paper in the Budget and answer one question: Why is the financial situation of the State weak, as you admitted before the FFC? Why is it becoming unaffordable? Why is the State increasing prices every day in Karnataka? Fix the finances, shadow cash support for the Metro provide it and Metro fares will come down,” wrote the BJP MP.

According to Mr. Surya, the proposed hike was put on hold after the Centre’s intervention.

The MP staged a demonstration with an empty ballot box to show that the State Government’s promises were empty.

The protest was also held in response to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s statement that ‘Surya is an empty ballot box who is not on the field but more active on social media.’

Speaking to PTI after being detained, Mr. Surya said: “The government is pushing the arrest and detention because we want affordable public transport and accountability. This is shameful.” He said the state government was ‘arresting’ him instead of providing roads, infrastructure and better amenities.

Speaking to reporters, he also said, “Metro fare hike has been suspended for the second time due to pressure from the Union Government. The State Government should publish a white paper on the economic situation.”

This comes amid the ongoing dispute between the Congress-led Karnataka government and the Centre; Each blamed the other for the proposed increase in Namma Metro fares.

Earlier on February 8, Tejasvi Surya said that the Karnataka government has repeatedly asked the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) to increase metro fares. He also alleged that the State Government had proposed to increase Namma Metro fares by 5%, stating that this would create a burden on passengers and urging the State to undertake periodic fare revisions as required by law.

On February 8, a notice was sent to the BJP MP for staging a protest at the metro station without prior notice to the police.

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao criticized the BJP for politicizing the issue, saying CM Siddaramaiah had already written to the Centre, which has an equal stake in Bengaluru’s Namma Metro, to not increase prices.

“BJP workers unnecessarily want to turn everything into politics. Metro is run by the State and Central governments and is a separate company. The CM has already written to the Indian government not to increase the fares. Now Tejasvi Surya is saying they will not increase. So let there be an official order, then we will see,” the minister told reporters in Bengaluru. he told reporters in Bengaluru.