The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) held a protest at Vishwavidyalaya metro station on Monday against the proposed hike in fares by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
Three students from the organisation jumped onto the tracks at 11 a.m. and stopped the train from about 10 minutes by shouting slogans against the Central and State governments.
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Sought appointments
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The activists claimed they were forced to resort to the extreme mode of protest as they failed to get appointments with Minister of State (Independent Charge) Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep S. Puri and Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot.
“This shows the dictatorial mindset of both the Central and State governments, as they refused to meet students who wanted to express their pain and anguish over the exorbitant hike in fares by the Delhi Metro, in which both the governments have equal stake,” said the students.
NSUI Delhi president Akshay Lakra, NSUI national coordinator Shauryaveer and former Delhi University Students’ Union candidate Arjun Chaprana said they had jumped onto the metro track as the administration and the governments had failed to listen to them.
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Bhagat Singh’s words
They claimed the words of Bhagat Singh, “if the deaf are to hear, the sound has to be very loud”, motivated them to enter the metro station and jump onto the track, bringing the metro services to a complete halt.
The NSUI has demanded passes for travel by Delhi University students on the metro on the lines of the ones provided for commute in DTC buses.
“We also want the hike to be rolled back as it causes a huge burden on students studying in other colleges and institutes across Delhi as well as working-class community,” said an NSUI spokesperson.
The students were detained by the police and were taken to Kashmere Gate police station.