Karnataka Bus Fare Hike: AIUTUC Slams 'Anti-People' Move, Demands Rollback
AIUTUC slams Karnataka government's decision to increase bus fares by up to 35%, calling it an anti-people move amid economic hardship.
The All India United Trade Union Centre (AIUTUC), Karnataka State Committee, has launched a fierce attack on the state government following a significant increase in bus fares. The union has condemned the decision as an "anti-people burden" and is demanding an immediate withdrawal of the price hike to protect the common citizen from further financial distress.
Staggering Fare Increases Across Corporations
In a press statement released on Wednesday, State Secretary K Somashekhar Yadagir highlighted the scale of the price surge. According to the union, the government has justified the move by citing losses incurred by transport corporations. However, the resulting hikes are substantial:
- State Transport Corporations (KSRTC, NWKRTC, KKRTC, etc.): Fares have been increased by 23 per cent.
- BMTC: Fares have seen a sharper climb of 35 per cent.
A String of Price Hikes
The AIUTUC pointed out that this is not an isolated incident but part of a worrying trend of increasing costs for basic necessities. The union noted that just a few days prior, the government had already raised the price of milk by Rs 4 per litre and curd by Rs 14 per litre, adding to the mounting financial pressure on households.
The Struggle of the Common Man
The trade union painted a grim picture of the current economic climate in Karnataka, citing several factors that make the fare hike particularly devastating:
- Employment Crisis: Rampant unemployment and continuous job losses have left many struggling for a minimum income.
- Inflation: Over the last decade, the costs of cooking gas and petrol have skyrocketed while wages have plummeted.
- Rural Distress: People in rural areas are already facing miserable conditions due to ongoing drought.
Profit vs. Public Service
The AIUTUC argued that public transport should not be viewed as a profit-making industry. Instead, it is an essential service used daily by students, farmers, women, workers, and the general public. The union emphasized that since these systems are funded by taxpayers' money, the government has a moral responsibility to manage them from a pro-people perspective.
Corruption and Mismanagement
Rather than passing the financial burden onto passengers, the AIUTUC suggested that the government look inward to solve the losses of the transport corporations. The union alleged that the deficits are actually the result of:
"Corruption in the government and corporations, leakages at various levels, and overall government policies."
The organization has urged the state government to reverse the decision immediately and has called upon the working class across Karnataka to organize a massive public struggle to oppose these "anti-people" price hikes.