SFI activists, police scuffle during protest held against bus fare hike
A scuffle broke out between the police and activists of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) during a protest at Summerhill Chowk near the gates of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), as they demonstrated against the state government’s decision to increase bus fares.
Tensions escalated when protesters attempted to burn an effigy of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The activists blocked the road and raised slogans, demanding the immediate rollback of the fare hike.
Ankush Rana, a member of the SFI state committee, criticised the fare hike as “anti-people and anti-student,” stating that it would place an undue financial burden on both the general public and students who rely on public transport for daily commuting.
SFI state Joint Secretary Upendra Kumar recalled that the state cabinet had raised the minimum bus fare to Rs 10 following the budget session of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly on March 28. He added that the government has now imposed an additional 15% hike, worsening the situation for students and residents, particularly those in remote areas who depend heavily on state-run buses.
Kumar emphasised that instead of addressing long-standing student demands for free transportation, the government is moving in the opposite direction by making public transport more expensive. He warned that this decision would disproportionately impact Himachal Pradesh’s significant student population.
He also criticised the government’s announcement during the budget session to hand over 1,000 state-run bus routes to private operators. Kumar alleged that this move reflects a clear intention to privatize the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC), undermining public transport services.
The SFI accused the government of raising bus fares only to accommodate salary hikes for ministers and legislators. The student body demanded the immediate rollback of the decision and warned of a statewide mass movement if the demands are not met.
The protest at HPU marks growing discontent among students and signals potential larger agitation if the fare hike remains in place.
