Opposition protests across state on petrol price hike

Protesting against the unprecedented hike of Rs 5 per litre of petrol by oil marketing companies, Communist Party of India state secretary K Narayana on Sunday pulled a rickshaw at Narayanguda Crossroads and demanded immediate withdrawal of the hike.

“The steepest ever increase in petrol prices would put extra burden on the people, particularly poor and middle class,” the CPI leader told media persons later.

Talking to media persons, Mr Narayana stated that the increase in prices of petrol, particularly after the elections to five states shows that the move was politically motivated.

Expressing concern over the rise in prices of essential commodities, he said the petrol price hike would impact on the all sectors like a chain reaction.

Demanding the oil marketing companies to reverse the decision, Mr Narayana said that the Left parties will work for the withdrawal of the hike. “We are not averse to extent or take support of other likeminded parties in support of agitation for reducing the petrol prices,” the veteran Communist leader said.

Meanwhile, Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu staged a bicycle rally at Miryalaguda in Nalgonda district along with Left party leaders, demanding the withdrawal of petrol price hike.

He called upon people to teach a fitting lesson to both Centre and state governments on the petrol price hike.

Mr Naidu made it clear he would continue the agitation until oil marketing companies reverse the decision.

Condemning the increase in the prices of petrol, Bharatiya Janata Party senior leader B Dattatreya alleged the state government burdening people by imposing taxes nearly to the tune of Rs 300 crore.

He demanded that the state government mount pressure on Union Petroleum Minister S Jaipal Reddy to reduce the petrol price hike.

Participating in a dharna, CPI(M) state secretary BV Raghavulu also demanded immediate revoke of petrol price hike.