Diesel price rise evokes widespread protests

The Centre’s decision to increase diesel prices by Rs 5 per litre has come under scathing attack not only from Opposition, but also from its alliance partners and from the Congress-led ruling dispensation in Kerala.

A majority of political parties across the country condemned the decision taken by the Cabinet and asked for immediate rolling out of the increased prices.

Criticising the decision, Congress leader and Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said it would have an adverse effect on the economy of the southern state.

Echoing similar sentiments, Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Bannerjee alleged that her party which is an integral part of the UPA-2 government was not taken into confidence prior to the announcement of the revised prices. She exhorted the Cabinet to roll out the prices at the earliest. Even DMK chief M Karunanidhi, too, said he was not consulted on the issue.

Taking a dig at the government, BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said: “The steep price hike in diesel is an anti-farmer and anti-common man decision.”

In Patna, Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar said the government, which rode to power in the name of “aam admi,” seems to have been causing greatest hardship to the same over the last several years.

RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav also echoed a similar sentiment when he said that during this period of drought, the farmers should have been spared from the hike in price of diesel.

In Lucknow, amid protest demonstrations by Samajwadi Party, BJP and other outfits, Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati asked for immediate rollback of the prices and termed the UPA-2 government as “dukhdayi government” (pain giving government).