CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu’s main opposition Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Saturday intensified an agitation launched mainly by students against a steep increase in government bus fares implemented last Saturday.

DMK staged a protest demonstration all over Tamil Nadu to condemn the steep hike in bus fare and demanded its roll back.

DMK leader MK Stalin led the agitation by participating in a protest demonstration held in front of the State Guest House at Chepauk.

Leaders of alliance parties, including the Congress, MDMK and the Left parties participated in the agitation and shouted slogans denouncing the AIADMK government for the steep hike and demanded that it should be rolled back immediately as it imposed additional burden on the people.

Speaking on the occasion, Stalin termed the hike as “merciless” and said it had severely affected the poor and the middle class. Stating that the then chief minister M. Karunanidhi had shot down the proposal to hike the bus fares when the transport department was facing losses, he recalled that the DMK president had stated that losses would be borne by the government.

“If the government did not roll back the hike, the DMK will stage unannounced agitations across the State, like the massive jallikattu protests involving the youth,” Stalin warned.

Stalin said Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami should resign if he cannot roll back the increase in prices. “This protest is not going to stop today. The bus fare price hike should be rolled back at once. If it is not possible then the CM should resign and go home,” Stalin said.

His sister, DMK Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi, led the agitation in front of the Chennai Collectorate, in which MDMK general secretary Vaiko and friendly parties participated.

Stalin’s son and actor Udhayanidhi Stalin, who had recently hinted of entering politics, led the agitation at suburban Tambaram and said he could more be seen in political platforms.

The DMK had said on Thursday set up a five-member committee headed by former Union Minister TR Baalu to recommend measures to restructure the state transport corporations in Tamil Nadu. “Horse-traded and ‘commission agent’ government should roll it back immediately,” Stalin said then, adding that the government was “sadist.”