Bus fare hike: TDP accuses CM of reneging on his vow

Chittoor: Accusing the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government failing to keep his promises made before elections, former minister and senior TDP leaders N Amaranatha Reddy demanded roll back of exorbitant hike in APSRTC fare.

He told The Hans India on Sunday that Jagan Mohan Reddy had assured during his Praja Sankalpa Yatra that he would not increase RTC or any charges but went back on his word making bus travel unaffordable for common people.

The former industries pointed out that the bus fares were not increased during the entire tenure of the TDP government though then too there was a fuel rate hike. He wondered where was the need for the government to raise fare when it proposes to merge the corporation with the government.

Accusing the YSRCP government of lacking a vision for developing industries in the state, Amaranatha Reddy said a number of national and international companies had reportedly decided to quit the state owing to lack of support from the government.

"A sense of resentment against the government has spread among all sections of people because of its inefficient functioning and governance.

The TDP will take advantage of this discontent in the forthcoming local body elections. YSRCP has no constructive agenda except throwing slur on TDP and attacking its activists besides demolishing the constructions with political motives," he said.

Demanding the government to roll back the APSRTC bus fare hike unconditionally, he said the TDP would launch an agitation if it does not do.

District TDP president P Nani and others were present. Meanwhile, district CPI general secretary A Rama Naidu, CITU district secretary P Chaithanya, Jana Sena leader Dayaram and others condemned the bus fare hike in separate statements.