Left leaders warn of street protests against petrol price hike

New Delhi, June 13 (UNI) Upping their ante against the "unjustified hike" in prices of petrol and diesel by the UPA Government, the Left parties today warned that people would come out on the streets if the Centre continued to ignore their demands for a rollback.

In a massive rally at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, held as part of the National Protest Day by the Left over the hike in petrol and diesel prices, leaders of the Left parties, supported by the Samajwadi Party, the Janta Dal (S) and the Rashtriya Lok Dal, warned the Government that the Left parties would continue with their agitation on the issue till the Government effected a complete rollback in the prices by cutting the Central Government's cess on petrol and diesel.

The speakers at the rally, which was addressed by CPI(M) leaders Prakash Karat, RSP leader and MP Abani Roy and Forward Bloc General Secretary and MP Debvrat Biswas, cautioned that the UPA Government could face street protests, similar to ones seen in Nepal that led to the overthrow of the monarchy if they continued to turn a blind eye to the demands for a rollback of the price hike.

Also, in a veiled threat of withdrawal of support to the UPA Government, the Left parties warned that not paying heed to their pleas for rollback of price in petroleum products could put its very existence in danger.

''We have in the past few weeks given several proposals to the Centre to reduce the price of petrol but it has not paid heed to them. I must warn the government that if it continues to ignore our pleas, then it's very existence could be in danger,'' Forward Bloc General Secretary and MP Debvrat Biswas said while addressing hundreds of demonstrators from the Left parties, the Samajwadi party, the Janta Dal (S) and the Rashtriya Lok Dal.

Addressing the rally, CPI Leader A B Bardhan said, ''the fresh hike in petrol and diesel prices will lead to a rise in the cost of various commodities, as they are in some way or the other linked to the price of petroleum products. This will place a tremendous burden on the common man who is already reeling under the 'skyrocketing prices'.'' ''Our pleas to the UPA Government to rollback the price of petroleum products have been ignored. So we are resorting to a National Protest Day today wherein were will indulge in picketing, chakka jam and other protests to force the governemnt to pay heed to our demands,'' Mr Bardhan said.

Pointing out to the protests in Nepal which had led to the overthrow of the monarchy there, he said,''perhaps the government wants people to come out on the streets here too.'' The rally saw protestors carrying red flags and shouting slogans like 'withdraw hike in prices of diesel and petrol' and 'Manmohan Singh wake up'.

The protestors also burnt the effigy of Dr Manmohan Singh.

After the rally, all the Left leaders present, as well as the leaders of the Samajwadi Party and the JD(S), courted arrest at the Parliament street police station on the issue.

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