DCM Shivakumar, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya lock horns over Metro rail fare hike
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya on Monday locked horns over the Metro rail fare hike.
The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), which was supposed to effect a five per cent hike from Monday, announced putting it on hold on Sunday night.
On Monday morning, the BJP MP from Bengaluru, South Tejasvi Surya was detained for staging a demonstration at Jayanagar Metro station demanding affordable public transport in the city, police said.
Surya, who is also the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) national president, staged protest at the Metro Station against the Metro fare hike, which has been increased from Re one to Rs five depending on the distance.
According to Surya, it happened after the Centre's intervention.
The MP staged demonstration with an empty trunk to convey that the state government's promises are empty trunk.
The protest was also in response to Shivakumar's statement that Surya is an empty trunk who is more active on social media and not on the ground.
Speaking to PTI after being detained, Surya said, "Just because we are asking for affordable public transport and accountability, the government is forcing arrest and detention. It's shameful."
He said that instead of providing roads, infrastructure and better amenities, the state government is "arresting" him.
Speaking to reporters, he also said, "Metro fare hike has been put on hold for the second time due to pressure from the Union government. The state government should release a white paper on the economic situation."
Rejecting his allegation, Shivakumar said the Centre has no role to play in holding back the hike.
At a press conference on Monday, Shivakumar said the directions came from the Centre on Sunday night has "zero value".
"Karnataka government put on hold the price hike not under any political pressure or on the advice of the Centre. Centre has no power to interfere on this or give directions to me in this regard," the DCM, who is Bengaluru Development Minister, said.
According to him, a senior Central government officer sent a letter to the BMRCL Managing Director not to move ahead with the fare hi;e.
"It is their recommendation, and they have asked us to put it on hold but the question is whether they have powers to do this," Shivakumar sought to know.
He said he spoke to experts in Bengaluru, Central government officials and other state governments having metro rail service on whether the Centre has any say on fare fixation.
He said the Centre does not have powers to interfere on the implementation of the recommendation of the Fare Fixation Committee (FFC), till a new FFC is formed and gives a fresh recommendation.
He read out a line from the policy document on Metro Rail, which said, "the Central government may from time to time constitute a fare fixation committee for the purpose of recommending fare for the carriage of passengers by the Metro Rail."
The Deputy CM said that in 2020, the FFC was formed, comprising three members. It has the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary as the chairperson. It submitted its report on December 16, 2024. The FFC recommendation on fare revision was implemented in February 9, 2025.
As per the FFC, after a year the annual increase subject to the maximum of five per cent has to be implemented from February 9, 2026, Shivakumar said.
Accordingly, the five per cent hike was introduced, the DCM said.
On Sunday a Central government officer wrote to the Managing Director of BMRCL saying that the company board meeting is scheduled to be held on February 9.
Till such time, it is requested that the FFC recommendations for the annual fare increase should be kept on hold, Shivakumar told reporters.
"The board meeting did not take place on Monday," he said.
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Trump says EU has until July 4 to approve last year's trade deal or it will face higher tariffs
Washington (AP): President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that goods from the European Union would face higher tariff rates if the 27-member bloc fails to approve last year's trade framework by July 4.
The announcement on Thursday appeared to be a deadline extension after the president said last Friday that EU autos would face a higher 25 per cent tariff starting this week. Trump made the updated announcement after what he described as a "great call" with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Still, the US president was displeased that the European Parliament had yet to finalize the trade arrangement reached last year, which was further complicated in February by the US Supreme Court ruling that Trump lacked the legal authority to declare an economic emergency to impose the initial tariffs used to pressure the EU into talks.
"A promise was made that the EU would deliver their side of the Deal and, as per Agreement, cut their Tariffs to ZERO!" Trump posted. "I agreed to give her until our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels."
It was unclear from the post whether Trump was implying that the tariff rates would jump on all EU goods or the increase would only apply to autos.
His latest statement indicates he might be backing away from his earlier threat on EU autos by giving the European Parliament several more weeks to approve the agreement.
Under the original terms of the framework, the US would charge a 15 per cent tax on most goods imported from the EU.
But since the Supreme Court ruling, the administration has levied a 10 per cent tariff while investigating trade imbalances and national security issues, aiming to put in new tariffs to make up for lost revenues.
