'Free Bus Rides Should Be Available To Every Woman, But PM Modi...': Kejriwal

PM Modi earlier said if the government provides free bus rides in a city with a dedicated Metro service, it eliminates 50% of the passengers, raising traffic and pollution levels.

A file photo of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday of opposing the scheme in AAP-ruled Delhi guaranteeing free bus rides for women. Kejriwal questioned why women should be denied free bus rides when Modi and other ministers benefit from free air travel.

In a post on X, the Delhi CM and AAP national convenor, who is currently out on interim bail related to the liquor policy case, wrote, "The Prime Minister is openly opposing the free bus travel being provided to women in Delhi. Women want free bus rides to be introduced across the country but Modi-ji wants to end it. If the prime minister and her ministers can avail free air travel, why can't women across the country get free bus travel."

The AAP chief also uploaded a video clip of Prime Minister Modi explaining further in an interview with a television news channel why it was not feasible to provide free bus rides.

PM Modi Says Free Bus Rides To Women Leads To Pollution Levels

Prime Minister Modi can be heard saying in the video that if the government provides free bus rides in a city with a dedicated Metro service, it eliminates 50% of the passengers. These passengers, PM Modi said, would otherwise use the Metro service. PM Modi indicated that the free bus rides scheme was only an attempt to win elections.

PM Modi sought to explain how the "free bus rides" scheme was not only raising the cost of bus travel for other passengers but also increasing vehicle emissions and pollution levels in the city. "You are adding to the traffic woes while also bringing long-term harm to the environment by taking passengers away from the Metro. How will our Metro service prosper and the country move forward," PM said in the interview.

The AAP government in Delhi currently offers free bus rides to women, students, senior citizens, and people from the transgender community on state-run DTDC buses.