Bengaluru, Feb 9: BJP MP Tejasvi Surya was on Monday detained by police for staging a demonstration at Jayanagar Metro station, demanding affordable public transport in the city, officials said.
Surya, who is also the national president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), was protesting against the recent Metro fare hike, which ranged from Re 1 to ₹5 depending on distance. The fare hike has since been put on hold.
According to Surya, the rollback came after the Centre’s intervention. During the protest, the MP carried an empty trunk to symbolise what he described as the state government’s “empty promises”.
The demonstration was also in response to Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar’s remark that Surya was an “empty trunk” who is more active on social media than on the ground.
Speaking to a news agency after his detention, Surya said, “Just because we are asking for affordable public transport and accountability, the government is resorting to arrests and detention. It is shameful.”
He alleged that instead of focusing on roads, infrastructure and better civic amenities, the state government was targeting him. Addressing reporters later, Surya said the Metro fare hike had been put on hold for the second time due to pressure from the Union government and demanded that the state government release a white paper on its economic situation. (Agencies)
