Bengaluru: The BJP will stage protests across Karnataka Thursday against the Congress govt’s decision to hike bus fares and milk prices, accusing it of pushing state-run transport corporations into financial distress and passing the burden of mismanagement on to the public.BJP state president BY Vijayendra described the govt led by chief minister DK Shivakumar as “inhuman” and accused it of pursuing anti-people policies. He said the govt had already increased milk prices and was now burdening commuters with higher bus fares.Leader of opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka alleged the govt owed Rs 5,650.9 crore to the state’s four transport corporations and could have avoided the fare hike by clearing the outstanding dues. According to him, KSRTC was owed Rs 2,943 crore, NWKRTC Rs 1,306 crore, BMTC Rs 1,019 crore and KKRTC Rs 999 crore.Ashoka claimed that bus fares had been increased by up to 40%, citing higher ticket prices on BMTC and intercity routes. He alleged that the govt’s failure to reimburse funds under its guarantee schemes had pushed the transport corporations into financial distress. He claimed that their total liabilities stood at Rs 7,130.8 crore as of May 2026, adding that the corporations were struggling even to procure spare parts.Criticising the recent hike in Nandini milk and curd prices, Ashoka said it would increase a family’s monthly expenditure by around Rs 390. He demanded the govt release a white paper on the state’s financial position and questioned its spending on the guarantee schemes.Union minister Pralhad Joshi also accused the govt of pushing the transport corporations towards bankruptcy through its guarantee schemes while increasing the financial burden on ordinary commuters. He said the govt had initially promised free travel but was now raising fares, adversely affecting workers and economically weaker sections.QuoteThe state govt was prepared to reduce bus fares if the Centre reduced the prices of petrol and diesel.DK Shivakumar | CM
