Demanding the immediate withdrawal of hike in bus fares and motor vehicle tax, Punjab Congress on Friday said that its main beneficiary would be ruling Badal family which had monopolized about 90 per cent of transport business in the State.
“SAD-BJP Government is out to crush common man and family of Chief Minister is busy filling their coffers by dubious means. Beside transport, the members of Badal family are controlling liquor and mining as well,” said Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa while addressing a meeting of party workers.
He said that Badal Government had increased 20 per cent bus fares on October 13, 2012, making a rise of 13 paise per kilometer. “last two revisions in the bus fares have added about Rs 200 crores per year in the kitty of Chief Minister and his close relatives in transport business,” he added.
Bajwa said that the effective increase in bus fares would not be 10 per cent due to five per cent increase in the Motor Transport Tax on mini bus operators. It has been increased from Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 annually. During SAD-BJP rule of last six years, an unprecedented power hike of 29 per cent has been made, he said.
PPCC President announced that Congress would launch an agitation against the hike in power tariff, bus fares and sand mafia. “I have already asked the party MlAs to check illegal mining and take media teams along to expose the lies of ruling SAD-BJP regime. Illegal mining is going on unabated with the political patronage of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia who are hand in glove with mafias,” he added.
Bajwa added that the night patrolling started by Sukhbir had proved a nightmare for the people particularly in rural areas where criminals have became active after so called night security. “Police is partner in the crime otherwise there is no reason of sudden spurt in incidents of thefts, chain snatching, eve teasing and highway crimes. The unaccounted gunmen given by police to SAD leaders are involved in the crime,” he said.