Bengaluru: BJP MP Tejasvi Surya Detained During Metro Fare Protest, Uses ‘Empty Trunk’ Symbol

Bengalur, Feb 09 : BJP Yuva Morcha National President and Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya was detained by police on Monday while staging a protest at R.V. Road Metro Station against the recent Bengaluru Metro fare hike. Surya carried an empty trunk in response to Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s remark calling him an “empty trunk,” alongside a poster declaring, “The Congress-led government is an empty trunk government.” The demonstration also featured images of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM Shivakumar.

Surya, accompanied by Jayanagara MLA C.K. Ramamurthy and party workers, argued with police over the legality of his detention, claiming it infringed on his privileges as a Member of Parliament. He maintained that he was not staging a dharna but merely travelling with a symbolic trunk to protest the fare hike.

“I have brought an empty trunk and am travelling by Metro. The conditions of the police notice do not apply to me. You should not make a preventive arrest,” Surya told authorities, questioning the state government’s actions and warning that his protest would continue.

Police cited a High Court order limiting protests to Freedom Park, noting that Surya’s demonstration violated the directive. BJP MLA Ramamurthy stated the protest aimed to push for a revision of the Fare Fixation Committee and highlighted that Metro fares in Bengaluru had increased by up to 80%, disproportionately affecting middle-class commuters and students.

Following discussions with Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Tejasvi Surya announced that the proposed fare hike, scheduled for February 9, had been temporarily suspended, reflecting the intervention at the central level.