Bus fare hike could have been avoided if Karnataka government had paid its own fees: BJP

Leader of Opposition R. Ashok. | Photo credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN

Taking serious exception to the hike in bus fares of state RTCs in Karnataka, the opposition BJP has argued that there is no need for hikes if the government clears its own dues of ₹5,650.95 crore to the transport corporations.

Leader of the Opposition R. Ashok said in a press conference that “the government has acted wrongly by choosing to shift the burden to the people instead of paying the due amount”.

He announced that the BJP would hold a nationwide protest on November 5 against the increase in bus fares. Intense protests will be held in all district headquarters and Bengaluru, Mr. Ashok said. He described the increases as arbitrary, saying they were as high as 40% in some cases.

“The Congress government has hiked bus fares in a manner more shameful than the Tughlaq regime. No previous government has ever hiked fares to this extent,” he noted.

“Though Deepavali is a festival of lights, this year it turned out to be a festival of darkness due to the hike,” he claimed.

Published – 04 Nov 2026 17:19 IST