Congress leaders protest against fuel price hike at Vijay Chowk in Delhi
Congress leaders led by Rahul Gandhi on Thursday staged a protest against the fuel price hike at Vijay Chowk in Delhi and sought its roll back. 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 the price of petrol, diesel and LPG gas.
Speaking to reporters, Rahul said that common people are suffering due to rising fuel prices but the government is not concerned.
“In the last 10 days, petrol and diesel price have been increased 9 times. We demand that the rising prices should be brought under control. Congress party is holding nationwide protests on this issue today,” Rahul said.
Among those present included Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.
“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 rising fuel prices,” Adhir Ranjan, who is Congress’ leader in the Lok Sabha, said.
Meanwhile, the grand old party said that it is also launching a week-long countrywide protest against inflation and rise in fuel prices.
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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