MYSURU: Members of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) on Friday staged a protest demanding distribution of free bus passes to students from all communities.
The protesters argued that, while the previous Congress government had made a commitment in the budget to provide bus passes free of cost to students of all communities the JD(S)-Congress coalition dispensation was now backtracking on the promise.
"Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy and various other ministers in the new government are passing the buck over the issue, leading to confusion among the students," the protesters said.
The students threatened to intensify the agitation if their demands were not met. Expressing disappointment over the delay in issuance of free bus passes, the protesters said, "It is two months since classes commenced this academic year. Students are left in the lurch due to the apathetic attitude of the state government."
The protesters further said that even elected representatives of the Congress, which announced free bus passes in the budget, were not raising their voice against this grave injustice done to the students' community.
Students not to attend classes on Saturday
School and college students across the state will bunk classes on Saturday to protest against the government for not implementing free bus passes for all categories of students as promised in the
Siddaramaiah budget in February this year.
The bandh has been called on by
All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) in support of
All India Democratic Youth Organisation (AIDYO) and All India Mahila Sanskritik Sanghathan (AIMSS).
AIDSO representatives said students of some schools have also planned to shut down to show support.
Associated Management of English Medium Schools in
Karnataka (KAMS) along with three other bodies of school managements in the state have also supported the protest morally, but they confirmed to TOI that the schools will remain open.
Meanwhile, transport minister DC Thamanna and the education department have mutually agreed to pay 25% each to the four corporations to bear the financial burden of an estimated Rs 600 crore to issue free bus passes to students across the state.
