Nation unites against hikes :
The UPA Government’s decision to hike diesel price by Rs 5 and cap the supply of subsidised LPG cylinder led to a massive nationwide protest on Friday with the common man taking to the streets and political parties mounting pressure on the Government for a rollback.
The UPA Government’s decision to hike diesel price by Rs 5 and cap the supply of subsidised LPG cylinder led to a massive nationwide protest on Friday with the common man taking to the streets and political parties mounting pressure on the Government for a rollback.
As the Manmohan Singh Government came under fire for the “anti-people decision”, even Congress-led Kerala Government sought partial withdrawal of the hike. TMC and DMK too flexed their muscle saying they were not consulted.
The BJP workers burnt the PM’s effigy and blocked roads in various parts of the country demanding immediate rollback of the diesel price hike and restoration of full subsidy on LPG cylinders.
Hundreds of BJP workers carrying posters condemning the UPA Government’s ‘cruel blow’ to the common man, blocked traffic on Howrah Bridge in Kolkata for some time with party leaders claiming that similar roadblocks were held at Cooch Behar in north Bengal and Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas District.
Even Samajwadi Party activists held demonstrations across Uttar Pradesh and burnt effigies of UPA leaders to register their protest. SP provides outside support to the Congress-led Government at the Centre.
Fishermen from Meenavar Nala Sangam and Tamizhaga Coastal Mechanised Boat Owners’ Association have decided to abstain from fishing to protest against the hike in diesel price. Over 500 fishermen on Friday held a demonstration condemning the price hike in front of the harbour office in Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu.
In Pune, women activists of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) served black tea made over a chulha (earthen stove) to register their protest against the Government’s decision.
The BJP and Shiv Sena activists also staged demonstrations in various parts of the city on the issue.
Youth outfits of CPI(M), CPI and BJP took out protest marches in various places of Kerala. BJP’s Rajasthan president Arun Chaturvedi rode a bicycle to a demonstration in Jaipur against coal scam and diesel price hike. In Patna, BJP and JD(U) took out separate rallies and burnt PM’s effigies.
“We strongly demand that both the decisions (on diesel and LPG) have to be rolled back forthwith in the interest of farmers and middle and lower-middle class citizens of the country,” former BJP chief M Venkaiah Naidu said.
The BJP also dared UPA allies and supporters to spell out their stand. In a statement, the CPI(M) politburo said Government was committing a “gigantic fraud” on the Indian people and the hike will have a cascading inflationary impact imposing greater burdens on the already suffering people.
In Kolkata, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat said the Left will hold talks with other parties on organising a “common movement” against the decision that will hit common man badly.
“Trinamool is part of the Government. It is equally responsible for this hike. They have to explain why Roy was absent from the meeting of the CCPA of which he is a member. They are using it as a tool of convenience. It is hypocrisy and double standard,” CPM politburo member Brinda Karat said
The DMK, a key ally of UPA, said it was not consulted by the Centre on the diesel price hike and insisted on its rollback. “If they had consulted (us), there would have been no need for me to issue a statement yesterday condemning the price hike,” DMK chief M Karunanidhi said in Chennai.
Supporting the UPA Government from outside, Samajwadi Party said if need be it will not hesitate to take any kind of stern steps. “We will oppose this hike and take to the streets,” SP general secretary Naresh Agarwal said.
The BSP, which also supports Congress-led coalition, criticised the decision. In a statement from Lucknow, party chief Mayawati said, “Reeling under the pressure of continued price hike of petrol, the common man has been further subjected to more hardships with this decision of unprecedented diesel price hike of Rs five per litre as well as quota of six LPG gas cylinders per family.”
Another UPA supporter, the RJD of Lalu Prasad described the decision as unfortunate and sought its reconsideration. A “furious” JD(S) threatened to withdraw its outside support to the government saying it cannot be a party to such decisions.
While Odisha Chief Minister termed the hike in diesel price and restriction on LPG cylinders as “breakdown” of the Centre’s economic policies, his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar said the decision was a “cruel joke”.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy (Congress) said, “If it is difficult to completely rollback the increase, the Centre should at least reduce the hike”.
