Three NSUI activists including its president Akshay Lakra were arrested on Monday for allegedly disrupting the movement of metro train while protesting against Delhi Metro fare hikes, on Monday morning at Vishwavidyalaya Metro Station.
A case under relevant sections of DMRC Act was registered against the three after which they were handed over to the police by the CISF officials.
“Akshay Lakra (president), Arjun Chaprana and Shauryaveer were detained by the CISF officials when they stopped the movement of a train by standing at the metro track. They were protesting against the proposed fare hikes to be implemented from Tuesday. Due to the protest, the movement of metro trains was halted for more than half an hour. The yellow line route connects Samyapur Badli to Huda City Centre,” said Jitender Mani, DCP, Delhi Metro.
CISF officials handed over them to the Delhi Police. A case under sections 62 (Prohibition of demonstrations upon metro railway), 64 (Penalty for unlawfully entering or remaining upon), 67 (Obstructing running of train) and 68 (Obstructing metro railway official in his duties) of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Act has been registered at Kashmiri Gate police station against the three.
Lakra told The Statesman, “This is the second time in six months the fare is being hiked. This is anti-people and we will not let this happen. NSUI will hold a protest across the capital on Tuesday against the Central government and Delhi government. We swept the university election on the promises we made to the students. We had mentioned in our manifesto that we will not let this happen or will demand 42 to 45 percent concessions to Delhi University students. Almost 90 per cent of university students travel by metro and the proposed fares hike will be a setback for them. Poor and middle class people often travel by metro. The fares should be affordable to them.”
Hundreds of NSUI volunteers led by Lakra arrived at the Vishwavidyalaya Metro station Monday morning. Akshay along with Arjun and Shauryaveer disrupted the train’s movement by standing on the track holding placards against the proposed fare hikes.
Arjun said, “We have huge support from the university students and public. Many people joined us in the protest. We appreciate the proposal of Delhi Government to pay 50 percent of DMRC’s budget. But they should ensure that they will stop the implementation of the proposed price hikes.”
If the hike is implemented, fare will go up by a maximum of Rs. 10. From October 10, for a distance upto to two kms, the fare will remain Rs.10 but for a distance between two and five kilometers, it will go up from Rs. 15 to Rs. 20. The maximum fare will be Rs. 60.