Bengaluru: In a symbolic protest against the recent 15% hike in bus fares, BJP workers distributed roses to male bus passengers at Majestic bus stand on Friday, wearing masks of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar. The protestors fell at the passengers’ feet, claiming to apologise on behalf of the Congress government for the fare increase.

The protest was led by BJP MLA R Ashoka, accompanied by Upper House counterpart Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, BJP MLC N Ravi Kumar, and other party leaders.

Ashoka criticised the government, alleging betrayal of pre-election promises. "We promised not to burden the public with increased prices or taxes. However, starting 2025, we have announced a 15% bus fare hike and plan to raise milk prices soon," Ashoka said.

Impersonating the Chief Minister, Ashoka sarcastically remarked, "People are happy with the decision to raise prices. My New Year's resolution is to increase prices further for the betterment of citizens' lives. We seek your forgiveness for having no other option."

Narayanaswamy called the Congress government "Nama Haako Sarkara" (a government of deceivers), accusing it of failing to uphold promises made ahead of the Assembly elections.

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Dehradun (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow in Dehradun on Tuesday, with a large crowd lining both sides of the road to greet him.

The prime minister is in the city to inaugurate the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway.

Before the roadshow, he stopped to pray at the Siddhpeeth Maa Datkali Temple near Dehradun on the border of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

He then embarked on a 12-kilometre road trip to the main event venue, Jaswant Ground, in Dehradun.

A large number of people, including school children, gathered to welcome the prime minister and showered flowers on his convoy.

A massive police force was deployed for security during the prime minister's movement.

Modi will inaugurate the Delhi-Dehradun economic corridor, which will cut the travel time between the two cities to less than half. He will also undertake a review of the wildlife passage on the elevated section of the high-speed expressway in Saharanpur.

The 213-kilometre six-lane access-controlled corridor has been built at a cost of over Rs 12,000 crore.

The corridor traverses through the states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, and will reduce travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from over six hours at present to around two and a half hours, according to an official statement.