Left, BJP protest against hike in fuel prices

Bangalore, Jun 5 (UNI) The Left parties and the BJP today organised day long hartal in various parts of Karnataka in protest against the hike in fuel prices by the Centre.

The agitators burnt effigies of the UPA government and its Finance Minister P Chidambaram and demanded the withdrawal of the price hike with immediate effect.

In the city activists of CITU, ABVP, the Left parties and the BJP cadre observed protests in various points of the city including the Bangalore International Airport against the price hike.

Protest rallies were also organised in all the districts.

Condemning the price hike, agitators said the life of middle class and poor families would worsen as they were already reeling under increase in the rates of essential commodities.

However normal life was not affected and the protest remained peaceful.

While the FKCCI said that though the price hike was inevitable it would lead to further fuel the inflationary effect. The Karnataka Lorry Owners Federation activists took out a protest rally and demanded withdrawal of price hike.

Meanwhile, Minister V S Acharya told reporters after a cabinet meeting that the government would come out with its decision regarding reducing the state's taxes on the petroleum products on July 10 when the BJP government would present its first budget.

Opposition leader Mallikarjuna Kharge demanded the state government to reduce service tax and cess on petro products in the lines of the decision taken by Maharashtra government.

UNI TEAM RS TS1932