Joint agitation in K'taka against fuel price hike

Bangalore, June 9 : Samajwadi Party, Sarvodaya, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India in Karnataka will launch a joint Statewide agitation on June 13 to protest against the hike in the price of petrol and diesel.

Addressing a joint press conference with CPI(M), CPI and Sarvodaya leaders, former Karnataka Chief Minister and SP State President S Bangarappa said they had joined hands to launch road blockades throughout the State, responding to the nationwide stir call given by SP and Left parties.

While the rasta roko would be for 30 minutes in Bangalore, it would be for an hour in district headquarters, he said.

Mr Bangarappa accused the Congress, heading the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre, of adopting eyewash tactics by urging the Centre to reduce the hike. The ''unreasonable'' hike was effected despite protests from the Left parties, extending support to the UPA Government.

He alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party had no moral right to protest against the hike as during its regime the prices were hiked 25 times. Price of kerosene was increased by 400 per cent, affecting the poor people, besides LPG. The pricing system was also changed to help the private players, he added.

Sarvodaya Working President K S Puttannaiah, CPI(M) Secretariat member G C Bayyareddy and CPI Secretary Siddanagowda Patil also spoke against the hike in petrol and diesel prices.

UNI

Related Stories
BJP demands roll back of petrol price hike
Naidu urges PM, Sonia to roll back fuel price hike
Jaya to lead AIADMK, allies protest on Jun 12