Protesting against the constant increase in petroleum product prices, 28 like-minded organisations will take out a march, in Mangaluru, said MLC Ivan D’Souza.
The protestors would include farmers, auto & bus owners & drivers, students unions, Bar association members and women organisations .
Speaking to reporters in Mangaluru on Friday, D'Souza said that an awareness programme on the price rise would be held at the Railway Station, Kudroli Circle (6 pm), near KMC Hospital in Attavar (7 pm), Mahakalipadpu (8 pm), Valencia Circle (8.30 pm) and Kankanady Maidan (9 pm) on September 8.
Awareness-cum-protest rallies were held at Urwa Market, Urwastore, Kudroli Jodipalli, near Bunder Police Station and Kandak Pete on Friday.
Support bandh on Sept 10
The 28 organisations would also support to the nation-wide bandh call given by the Congress on September 10.
The daily rise in petrol and diesel prices, would impact the transport sector. This in turn, would spike prices of essential commodities, D'Souza added. His statement comes in the wake of a fresh hike in petrol and diesel prices on Thursday midnight.
Fuel prices continued their upward trend with petrol sold at Rs 82.03 per litre and diesel at Rs 75.18 per litre in Mangaluru-- the highest ever.
D'Souza urged the NDA government to include petroleum products under the goods and services tax (GST) umbrella. "If fuel is brought under the GST umbrella, then the prices will come down by Rs 20 to Rs 22 per litre," he noted.
“Centre blaming states is an unwise move. The BJP forgets its brag that it is ruling a majority of the states in India. The Centre and states must act together to include petrol and diesel under GST,” he remarked.
He said the crude oil prices in the international market in 2014 was USD 108.26 and price of petrol in India was Rs 65 per litre. Now, the price of crude oil in the international market had reduced to USD 63 but the price of petrol in India had touched Rs 82.03 per litre. Similarly, diesel price which was Rs 48 per litre, has increased to Rs 75 per litre in 2018.
The Centre which capped the quantum of kerosene supply in 2014, increased LPG prices to Rs 813 in 2018. The excise duty on petrol and diesel had increased 12 times in the last four and a half years, D'Souza pointed out.
Handbills opposing the price rise, were released on the occasion. Nearly 10,000 handbills will be distributed among the public.
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