When protesters took law into their own hands

Tension prevailed on airport road on Tuesday as the protest against the toll hike turned violent.

The protesters shouted slogans and broke window panes of the toll collection booths.

Around 2,000 workers from the BJP and various Kannada organisations took part in the protest.

Ravi S, Joint Commissioner (law and order), told Deccan Herald that they were prepared well in advance to deal with the protesters. “Over 300 policemen have been deployed at the spot,” he said.

Former transport minister R Ashoka who was present at the toll gate said that the hike was unfair. On the non-availability of the service road, he said, “It is mandatory to throw open the service road for the public.”

He criticised the steep rise in toll and said “With this change, taxi drivers will not be able to take home their salaries. They will, instead, take back debts.”

Ashoka alleged that the State and Central government had ‘connived’ with Navayuga and NHAI.

“When I was the minister for transport, a similar situation had arisen. We had ensured that there was no hike. How can they review it so many times within a six-month span and bring about a 40 per cent hike?” he said.

Ashoka said that it would not be surprising if they increase the water tariff soon.

“Just after elections, the bus fares went up. Then, there were power cuts. Now it is toll. If the Congress was honest enough, they should have done all this before the elections.”

Former labour minister Bachegowda said that the increase has been very unscientifically done.

“We will not allow the toll to be collected till the service road is provided,” he said.

While the BJP expressed anger by shouting slogans against the Union government, members of a few Kannada organisations took to violence.

Police had to resort to caning the protesters, after members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) broke the window panes of the toll collection booths.

T A Narayana Gowda, the KRV president, said that they would damage the toll booths if the hike was not rolled back within 24 hours.

DH News Service Tension prevailed on airport road on Tuesday as the protest against the toll hike turned violent.

The protesters shouted slogans and broke window panes of the toll collection booths.

Around 2,000 workers from the BJP and various Kannada organisations took part in the protest.

Ravi S, Joint Commissioner (law and order), told Deccan Herald that they were prepared well in advance to deal with the protesters. “Over 300 policemen have been deployed at the spot,” he said.

Former transport minister R Ashoka who was present at the toll gate said that the hike was unfair. On the non-availability of the service road, he said, “It is mandatory to throw open the service road for the public.”

He criticised the steep rise in toll and said “With this change, taxi drivers will not be able to take home their salaries. They will, instead, take back debts.”

Ashoka alleged that the State and Central government had ‘connived’ with Navayuga and NHAI.

“When I was the minister for transport, a similar situation had arisen. We had ensured that there was no hike. How can they review it so many times within a six-month span and bring about a 40 per cent hike?” he said.

Ashoka said that it would not be surprising if they increase the water tariff soon.

“Just after elections, the bus fares went up. Then, there were power cuts. Now it is toll. If the Congress was honest enough, they should have done all this before the elections.”
Former labour minister Bachegowda said that the increase has been very unscientifically done.

“We will not allow the toll to be collected till the service road is provided,” he said.

While the BJP expressed anger by shouting slogans against the Union government, members of a few Kannada organisations took to violence.

Police had to resort to caning the protesters, after members of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) broke the window panes of the toll collection booths.

T A Narayana Gowda, the KRV president, said that they would damage the toll booths if the hike was not rolled back within 24 hours.