India protests over diesel price hike

New Delhi, Sept 14: Entire nation erupted in protest on Friday, Sept 14 demanding an immediate rollback against government's decision to increase

price and limiting the usage of LPG to just six cylinders in a year on subsidised rate.

Experts are saying the decision of Congress-led UPA government at the centre to increase fuel prices was politically a tough stand to take at a time when it is already facing large scale opposition on Coalgate scam.

Both UPA allies and opposition parties took to the streets, asking the government to revoke its decision immediately.

The diesel price has been increased by Rs 5 a litre and each household will get only six domestic LPG (14.2 Kg) cylinders per annum at a subsidised rate. These decisions were taken by the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) at a meeting on Thursday.

Protest rally against government's latest decision were organised in Delhi, Mumbai, Chandigarh, Karnal, Kanpur, Allahabad, Agra, Ludhiana and several other cities.

UPA allies like the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) along with the Opposition parties have strongly criticised fuel price hike.

Most of the political parties have expressed their opposition to the steep price hike in diesel as "anti-people" move by the government. They have demanded an immediate rollback on the hike.

Even members of Team Anna have slammed the latest fuel price hike. Arvind Kejriwal said that there was no political will to lower prices of fuel. He added that call for bandh and protests were an eyewash.

Experts say rise in fuel price is sure to increase commodity prices across the nation, hitting aam aadmi the most.

Bus and minibus operators in West Bengal on Friday threatened to go on an indefinite strike if fares were not immediately raised.

CPI(M)-led Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala on Thursday called for a state-wide hartal against the diesel price increase on Sept 15.

OneIndia News