BENGALURU: Hundreds of students took to the streets here on Wednesday to protest against the state government for failing to keep its promise of providing free bus pass to students. The protest, led by All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO), All India Democratic Youth Organisation (AIDYO) and All India Mahila Samskritik Sanghatan (AIMSS) began at the Town Hall and ended at Mysore Bank Circle. The protest rally was inaugurated by AIDSO state president N Pramod.
AIDSO district secretary Ajay Kamat said the government has failed to keep its promise of providing free bass to students. “DyCM Parmeshwara had announced after a coordination committee meeting that the free bus pass scheme would be implemented as promised. Following this, agitation was called off. But now there is no talk of it in the budget,” he said. Pramod said the government was only thinking of the loss they would incur if they provided free passes to all. (With inputs from B Shivani and Halima Sadiya)
I am for free bus passes for students: Minister Transport Minister
D C Thammanna on Wednesday expressed support for providing free buses for students and expressed optimism that it would come through. Responding to a query as to whether the free bus pass scheme announced by former CM Siddaramaiah in his budget would be implemented, he said, “It is up to the government to take a call on it.” Asked about the multi-speciality hospital for BMTC employees, the Minister said that the Health Department had turned down its proposal. BMTC MD V Ponnuraj said, “They have not yet officially conveyed it to us.” BMTC was also working on an insurance policy for all its employees, he added.