‘All to prevent one person from...’ BRS leader reacts after being placed under house arrest over RTC fare hike protest

Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao, senior leader T. Harish Rao, and other party leaders were placed under house arrest on Thursday as a precautionary measure ahead of the protest over the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) bus fare hike in Hyderabad.

Police personnel were stationed outside the residences of Rama Rao, Harish Rao, and several other leaders from early morning to prevent them from taking part in the party’s ‘Chalo Bus Bhavan’ programme.

What was the protest about?

The protest was organised to demand an immediate rollback of the increased bus fares. Rama Rao, along with former ministers Talasani Srinivas Yadav, Padma Rao, and Sabitha Indra Reddy, planned to travel by RTC bus from Rethifile Bus Stop in Secunderabad to the TGSRTC Bus Bhavan.

Harish Rao, accompanied by other party leaders, intended to leave from Mehdipatnam Bus Stop to reach the Bus Bhavan and submit a representation to the TGSRTC Managing Director.

How did KTR react to house arrest?

Rama Rao criticised the house arrests on social media, saying the party only wanted to stage a peaceful protest. He wrote on X, "All I wanted to do was board an RTC bus peacefully, travel to RTC MD office & submit a letter demanding roll back of steep hike in Bus ticket fares. Look at the number of police officers deployed right now outside my housing complex!! All to prevent one person from boarding a Bus? Wish the police show the same level of enthusiasm about controlling the crime rate that is spiralling in Hyderabad."

He also shared pictures of police personnel stationed outside his residence and added that the party would continue with the protest, noting that such arrests were not new to the BRS.

What are the new bus fares?

TGSRTC increased city bus fares from October 6 to fund the expansion of electric bus infrastructure. Under the new fare structure, passengers travelling by City Ordinary, Metro Express, E-Ordinary, and E-Express services will pay an additional Rs 5 for the first three stages and Rs 10 from the fourth stage onwards.

For Metro Deluxe and E-Metro AC services, the extra charge will be Rs 5 for the first stage and Rs 10 from the second stage onwards.

Why is the fare hike controversial?

KTR described the decision to increase fares by Rs 10 at once as “reprehensible.” He said that at a time when citizens are struggling with rising prices of essential commodities, this fare hike imposes an additional financial burden of about Rs 500 per month on every passenger.

IANS inputs