The Karnataka BJP staged a protest at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Wednesday against recent increases in state bus fares and Nandini milk prices, accusing the Congress government of placing an additional burden on ordinary households.
The demonstration was led by BJP state president BY Vijayendra, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy. Party workers raised slogans against the state government and criticised the recent price revisions.
The protest focused on a bus fare increase announced on November 4 by State Transport Minister Byrathi Suresh. The revision applies to Karnataka’s four state-run transport corporations. According to the report, the maximum increase is Rs 9 for the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, while fares on Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation city buses have risen by up to Rs 10.
The changes affect public transport services used by commuters across the state, including Bengaluru’s city bus network. The transport corporations covered by the revision are state-run operators, making the fare decision relevant to daily travel costs for passengers who depend on buses for work, education and other routine journeys.
The BJP also opposed recent price increases announced by the Karnataka Milk Federation. The price of Nandini milk rose by Rs 8 per litre, while curd became Rs 14 more expensive per litre. The Bengaluru Milk Union subsequently revised the retail prices of Nandini ghee, butter, paneer and Trupti milk, with the new rates taking effect from November 4.
The party described the D K Shivakumar-led Congress government as an anti-people government and accused it of subjecting residents to successive price increases. The protest was attended by core committee members, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, state office-bearers and district presidents, in addition to other party workers.
The BJP’s demonstration places the recent transport and dairy price revisions at the centre of a wider political dispute over the cost of essential services and goods. The reported fare and price changes remain the immediate issues raised by the opposition during the protest.
