Mamata demands fare hike roll-back, TMC men paralyse traffic

She said that fare hike and freight rates had created problems for the masses

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today termed the hike in rail fares as “unprecedented and anti-people” and demanded its roll back in the interest of common people.Hundreds of her party supporters also today hit the streets as part of a week-long agitation against the hike in passenger and freight fares.

The state Assembly today also passed a resolution moved by state parliamentary affairs and education minister Partha Chatterjee seeking withdrawal of the fare hike which was supported by the Left, the Congress and the SUCI. Participating in the debate on the resolution in the Assembly the Chief Minister said the decision to hike rail fare and freight rates had created problems for the masses. The increase in rail fare means increase in prices of all commodities.

The decision will have an impact on the pockets which in turn will affect the kitchen of common man, she said.Hundreds of TMC activists, led by the party MPs, state ministers and legislators took out a procession from Raja Subodh Mullick Square in the north to the Gandhi statue in the central part of the city. Protestors carried posters which read “We oppose rail fare hike". Another poster read “Modi tumi jaldi bhago” (Modi you should quit).Banerjee during debate, however, pointed out that their opposition to the fare hike did not mean that they were being anti-Centre.It was just a reminder to the central government that the decision should be withdrawn for the sake of people.