A video of an elderly woman who refused to travel free in a government bus in Tamil Nadu is going viral on social media platforms. Apparently unwilling to utilise a government sop, she is seen arguing with the conductor to issue a ticket to her. For the unversed, free travel for women in state-run buses in Tamil Nadu is a poll promise of the ruling DMK made ahead of the 2021 Assembly elections.
The incident came in the backdrop of a state minister’s certain remarks made in the context of the free bus travel scheme, which has not gone down well with a section of women commuters and others in the state.
In the video, it can be seen that the woman boarded the city bus and is seen demanding a ticket. The conductor told her that there was no need to buy a ticket, in lines with the government scheme. However, the irked woman purportedly said, “I do not want to travel OC.” OC is an apparent colloquial slang referring to something that comes free of cost.
The conductor finally issued a ticket to her destination, even as some passengers filmed the incident and posted it on social media, which has gone viral.
Watch the video below:
Higher Education Minister K Ponmudi’s reported remarks made on the government’s free bus travel scheme for women has attracted lot of criticism, including from the opposition AIADMK, with many claiming that it belittled women.
Also read: Viral Video: Man battles strong lashes of wind, netizens want to know what he ate for breakfast
AIADMK interim general secretary and state Leader of Opposition, K Palaniswami, alleged that the minister made critical remarks about the scheme and wondered if it was not a government-funded one.
Also read: Viral Video: Turkish singer Melek Mosso cuts hair on stage in solidarity with Iranian women | Watch
