White Paper signals hike in bus fare, power tariff: Jayakumar

‘Schemes based on social justice may also be curtailed’

The White Paper on Tamil Nadu’s finances, which the DMK government released on Monday, is a “signal” to people to be prepared for an increase in power and public transport tariff, AIADMK organisation secretary and former Finance and Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar has said. Questioning the need for the DMK government to release the document days ahead of the presentation of the Budget, Mr. Jayakumar told The Hindu that the proper forum would be the Assembly. “Why should this be done now? What was the compulsion? Is it not clear that they [the government] are going to increase bus fare and power tariff?” he said. Mr. Jayakumar said another message from the White Paper was a possible curtailment of the schemes based on social justice.