Ring bells, beat drums at 11 am this Thursday: Congress campaign against price rise from March 31

New Delhi, Mar 26: Congress will launch 3-phased agitation plan 'Mehngai-mukt Bharat Abhiyaan' from March 31 to April 7 as part of which party workers will ring bells, garland LPG cylinders and beat drums besides organising rallies and marches across the country.

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala targeted the BJP after petrol and diesel prices were increased for the fourth time in five days, saying this "shameless fleecing" of the public must stop.

He said people will garland LPG cylinders, beat drums and ring bells to highlight the issue of inflation and seek to draw the attention of the "deaf BJP government against the insurmountable increase in the prices of cooking gas, petrol and diesel.

"The Congress president, in consultation with the party general secretaries and state in-charges, has decided to champion the people's cause in a three-phased programme -- Mehngai-mukt Bharat Abhiyaan," Surjewala said.

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the government over the rising prices of fuel, saying, "King prepares for palace, while subjects reel under inflation."

Petrol and diesel prices were hiked by 80 paise a litre each on Saturday, the fourth increase in five days as oil firms passed on to consumers the spike in cost of raw material.

In a tweet in Hindi, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "Inflation in Modi government - 'date new, problem same. This morning also started with rising prices. Today again the rate was increased by Rs 0.80."

"Everyday a new rate of diesel/petrol in new India, four attacks in five days, loot of Rs. 3.2/L," he said.

"BJP continues - celebratory oath-taking, public suffers from inflation every day?" Surjewala said.

His remarks came a day after the BJP government headed by Yogi Adityanath was sworn in in Uttar Pradesh. The BJP won four out of the five assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Punjab. The AAP came to power in Punjab.