India protests against fuel price hike

[News_Editor]

India protests against fuel price hike

2011-06-25 21:52:05 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW DELHI (BNO NEWS) -- India's opposition parties on Saturday slammed the ruling government for the hike in prices of petroleum products and launched a countrywide protest to demand an immediate rollback of the increase.

According to Press Trust of India, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and left-wing parties called on their supporters to immediately conduct strikes, demonstrations and other protest actions. In New Delhi, BJP activists marched towards Parliament but were prevented by police who used water canons to disperse the protesters.

The Indian government on Friday increased the price of diesel by 3 rupees (7 cents) per liter. It also raised the prices of domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by 50 rupees ($1.11) per cylinder and kerosene by 2 rupees (4 cents) per liter.

Opposition parties said it was "another cruel blow" to the common people as the increase in diesel price would raise transportation cost and affect farmers, while those in kerosene and LPG cylinders would burden the poor.

"In the last one year, the government has increased petroleum prices ten times. While the common man is bearing the brunt of price rise, the government has now added fuel to fire," BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

He added that the hike has been announced by the government to "serve the interest of the oil mafia".

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