Bengaluru: Opposition BJP on Thursday held a protest here targeting the Congress government in Karnataka over the bus fare hike, and demanded its immediate rollback.

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BJP leaders, led by the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka, held a demonstration at the Kempegowda (Majestic) bus station holding placards and shouting slogans against the D K Shivakumar-led Congress government.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, Deputy leader of Opposition in the Assembly Arvind Bellad, Bengaluru Central MP P C Mohan, several party legislators and leaders participated in the protest.

A couple of party workers were seen wearing masks of CM Shivakumar and Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh with begging bowls in their hands, during the protest.

Ashoka and other leaders distributed roses to commuters affected by the fare hike.

Speaking during the protest, Ashoka demanded Shivakumar's resignation, accusing him of "failing" to manage the transport department and run the government.

Later, speaking to reporters here, he said that by hiking the bus fare, the Congress has shown its true face to the people of the state. By increasing the price ahead of the Deepavali festival, it has negatively impacted the poor and middle class who use the bus to commute.

"The government needs to give about Rs 5,000 to 6,000 crore to the transport department. Unable to provide that money, they are putting the burden on the people. They are unable to fund the guarantee schemes, so they are burdening the people, while they (those in the government) and indulging in loot," the LoP alleged.

Pointing out that the CM and the ruling Congress leaders are citing the diesel and petrol price hike as the reason for the bus fare hike, Ashoka said, "Since the Siddaramaiah-Shivakumar government came to power, it has collected around Rs 5,000 - Rs 6,000 crore through increased taxes on petrol and diesel alone. Return that money to the people. You keep talking about rising petrol and diesel prices, but the government has collected additional revenue through these increases. Give that money back."

Transport corporations that were once profitable are now on the verge of shutting down. This government, which is sunk in corruption, is not doing any development and is instead looting the people, he alleged.

"Freebies are being given to women (with Shakti scheme- free bus travel for women), while men are being looted. This is an act of betrayal of trust. Protests against this will continue for another week. Drought relief has not been given to farmers," the BJP leader said.

The BJP workers and leaders, including Ashoka, were later detained and taken away in a bus.

Minister Byrathi Suresh on Wednesday announced the hikes in bus fares of four state-run transport corporations in the state, with KSRTC's fares going up by 23 per cent on average, while BMTC (in Bengaluru) fares increased by 33-35 per cent.

The BJP held similar protests in various parts of the state against the bus fare hike.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders alleged police high-handedness while being whisked away towards the bus from the protest site in Bengaluru, claiming party MLC and opposition chief whip in the legislative council N Ravi Kumar was injured.

Sharing the video of the incident, state BJP chief B Y Vijayendra said he strongly condemns the "authoritarian attitude of this corrupt, anti-people" Congress government, which has "unleashed police brutality" against his party leaders and workers.

"The Hitler-like Congress government must take full responsibility for the police brutality, including the physical assault and use of force against our senior leader, Ravi Kumar, who serves as our Chief Whip in the Legislative Council," he said.

"This anti-people Congress government, which has long forgotten its fundamental responsibility of listening to people's problems and providing solutions, is now using force to suppress those who raise their voices for the people, elected representatives, and our party workers. This clearly exposes its arrogance of power and authoritarian mindset," he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Mathrubhumi and is published from a syndicated feed.)