Led by Rahul Gandhi, the Congress on Thursday held protest at Delhi’s Vijay Chowk against the government over the fuel price hike, demanding rollback of the prices. The party is also launching a week-long countrywide protest against inflation and rise in fuel prices.
Congress MPs from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha carrying placards raised slogans against the government and sat on a dharna against the rise in price of petrol, diesel and LPG gas.
Among those present included Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.
The Congress also launches its three phase campaign – ‘Mehngai-mukt Bharat Abhiyaan’ – against the centre from Thursday, which will continue till April 7. “In the last 10 days, petrol and diesel price have been increased nine times. We demand that the rising prices should be brought under control. The Congress is holding nationwide protests on this issue today,” Gandhi told reporters.
“We had predicted that as soon as elections in five states will conclude, the fuel prices will be hiked. We demand that fuel prices be rolled back. The government cannot understand the difficulties being faced by the public because of the rise,” Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury told ANI. In a video shared by the news agency, the MPs were also seen shouting slogans against the govermment.
Petrol and diesel prices were on Thursday hiked by 80 paise a litre each, taking the total increase in rates in the last 10 days to Rs 6.40 per litre.
Rates have been increased across the country and vary from state to state depending upon the incidence of local taxation.
This is the ninth increase in prices since the ending of a four-and-half-month long hiatus in rate revision on March 22.
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(With inputs from agencies)
