CITU protests against increase in price of LPG

Condemning the hike in the price of LPG and essential commodities, the members of CITU staged a protest in front of the main post office in Udupi on Wednesday.

The protesters shouted slogans against the Central and state governments and demanded reduction in the price of essential commodities and increase in the wages of the labourers in turn.

District Construction Workers' Association vice president Vittal Poojary said, "After the implementation of the GST, the prices of essential commodities have increased, affecting the common man. However, the income of the common man has not increased."

He added, "In Kerala, 14 essential commodities are distributed through the public distribution system. The poor are given houses on 12 cents' land. However, the Karnataka government has not initiated any move this regard."

CITU leader Balakrishna Shetty said, "The BJP had promised to reduce the price of essential commodities after coming to power. It had also promised to bring back black money stashed in foreign banks. However, the promises have not been fulfilled so far."

He said that when the BJP came to power, the price of petrol was 130 dollar a barrel in the international market. "Now, it has reduced to 52 dollar a barrel. However, the price of petrol has not reduced so far. Instead, the government is planning to take away the subsidy of LPG," he added.