Granny Goes Viral For Refusing Free Bus Travel In Coimbatore

A video from Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore showing an elderly woman arguing with a government bus conductor to charge her for the trip has gone viral on social media.

Women in Tamil Nadu are allowed to travel free in town buses as per Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s (DMK’s) poll promise made during the 2021 election campaign.

The incident comes in the backdrop of recent statements made by DMK Minister for Higher Education K Pondmudi.

His remarks regarding free bus travel were seen by some as demeaning to women.

The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) criticised the statement and wondered as to how a minister could make such remarks regarding a government scheme.

In the video, it can be seen that the conductor explaining to the woman that she need not pay the fare, but the woman argues saying that she will not travel ‘OC’ (free). ‘OC’ was the very same word used by the minister in his remarks.