Bengaluru, Feb 9: BJP Yuva Morcha president and MP Tejasvi Surya was detained by police on Monday amid protests against the Bengaluru Metro fare hike, in a demonstration involving “empty trunks”. 

After his detention, he posted on X: “Arresting me won’t silence me! Shameful that the Congress government arrested me for exposing the truth: That this is a ‘Khali Trunk’ Govt. That Karnataka’s finances are broken, and citizens are paying the price through rising Metro fares and soaring costs.”

Surya said, “It is shameful that instead of providing better roads, infrastructure and amenities, the state government is forcing and detaining. We are asking for affordable public transport.”

Call for financial transparency

The BJP leader demanded accountability from the state government. He said: “No more excuses. The Chief Minister must present a White Paper in the Budget and answer one question — Why are State’s finances weak, as you have admitted before FFC? Why is [Metro] becoming unaffordable in Karnataka? Why is the State increasing prices everyday?”

He added that restoring shadow cash support to the Metro could reduce fares, insisting that “anything else is deception.”

Metro fare hike paused under Union government pressure

Surya further said that the Metro fare hike had been put on hold for the second time due to pressure from the Union government. He called on the state authorities to release a white paper on Karnataka’s economic situation.

“Metro fare hike has been put on hold for the second time due to pressure from the Union government. The state government should release a white paper on the economic situation,” he said.