CPIM student, women outfits protest against train fare hike

CHENNAI: Urging the BJP-led NDA Government to immediately rollback the train fare hike, members of the youth, student and women's wings of the CPI (M) today staged a state-wide protest demonstrations in Tamil Nadu.

The demonstrations were held at various places, including Chennai, Tiruttani, Tiruchirappalli and Nagapattinam, by members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) and the Students Federation of India (SFI).

Raising slogans against the Narendra Modi regime, the agitators said the hike had been effected within a month of the BJP assuming power.

"The passenger fare hike will severely affect the common man, the working classes and the poor," the agitators told reporters.

The protestors, who squatted on rail tracks, were removed by the police and were detained briefly.

The increased passenger fare and frieght rates came into force today.