Sidhu rides a elephant to protest petrol hike

Amritsar, June 7 (UNI) Astride an elephant, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu here today led BJP activists in a protest march against the hike of petrol and diesel prices by the UPA at the Centre.

The protestors in 'tongas' and bullock carts followed Mr Sidhu shouting slogans against the Manmohan Singh government and demanded a withdrawl of the hike. Punjab BJP Vice President Mrs Laxmikanta Chawla suffered minor injuries when the 'tonga' in which she was seated with other party workers over-turned.

Addressing BJP activists from atop the elephant, Mr Sidhu, who is the local MP said the UPA government was taking the country backwards.'' We are going back to the Dark Ages,'' he said.

He said the increase in the prices of diesel would hit the farming community, which is already in a crisis. He called upon the Left parties to reconsider their support to the UPA government.

Elsewhere in Punjab and Haryana and the Union territory of Chandigarh, BJP activists converged onto the streets and bazaars of cities and towns in bullock carts, 'rehris and tongas' to protest against the price hike. Bullock carts were used for pulling cars while 'rehris' were used for pulling motor cycles and scooters.

The BJP leaders, while criticising the price hike, asked the Left parties and other UPA allies to withdraw support to the Manmohan Singh government. The Left should make their stand clear rather than shed crocodile tears over the price hike, the leaders said while addressing party workers in the two states.

The BJP leaders claimed that prices of essential commodities had gone up in the last two years and the UPA government had taken no steps to check this trend.

UNI XC-HS PA KN1926