Mangalore :City North Block Congress Committee held a huge protest against fare hike here at the Mangalore central railway station on June 23.

Congress leader Suresh Ballal addressing the gathering said that “the Modi government has hiked the passenger fare and transport rate, within 20 days of their taking over the reins of governance.”  “They have cheated the people”, he said. “Before election they had promised to  control prices(inflation) and assured of good days(acche din). But they have not fulfilled their promise,” he added.

“The railway minister is clever and very good in riding trains, that is why he is saying the decision was first taken by UPA govt. Rich people who travel by aeroplanes are relaxed as it is not costly. But poor as well as middle class people who go by trains will suffer. We will protest by holding Rail Roko and force minister to roll back the decision of increasing fare hike” he said.

Protesters stopped the Bhatkal-Mangalore train. Congress leaders and activists sat on the tracks and stopped the trains. Police persuaded the protesters to allow them to run the trains.

In the protest City north zone block committee president Vishwas Kumar Das, G A Bawa, Sudhir T K and many other activists were present.