BJP protests over petrol price hike

Mumbai, May 20: BJP workers on Thursday, May 19, staged state-wide protests against the petrol price hike saying the UPA government has "back stabbed the common man" by rising the petrol prices "immediately after the polls in five states."

BJP State President Sudhir Mungantiwar led the protests at Chandrapur, while the Opposition leader in Legislative Council Pandurang Phundkar led a cycle rally at Khamgaon.

"Till the assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Congress had a concern for the common man. But soon after the polls, the Congress-led UPA back stabbed the aam aadmi by promptly hiking petrol prices by Rs 5 per liter," BJP workers said.

Sanjeev Patel, President of South Mumbai BJP told PTI that around 150 BJP activists participated in the protest outside the Churchgate Station.

"Some party workers formed a chain depicting bullock cart and a cycle-rally was taken out to address the plight of the car owners," he said.

Similar protests were also seen outside 40 major railway stations in Mumbai and the suburban areas.

Meanwhile, in a statement issued here, state BJP spokesman, Atul Shah said that between Jun 10, 2010 and May 15, 2011, petrol prices were hiked 10 times. The latest of price hike of Rs 5 on May 15 is the highest ever in the Indian history, he said.

PTI