The Centre’s decision to increase diesel price and limit the subsidy on LPG to just six cylinders per year triggered widespread protests in Vijayawada on Friday. The Opposition parties – TDP, CPI, CPI (M) and YSRCP – took to streets to register their protest. They burnt effigies of the Central government at different places.
The TDP workers, led by their district secretary Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, burnt an effigy at Gollapudi near Vijayawada, while the CPI activists led by their city secretary Donepudi Sankar staged a protest at Lenin Centre. The CPI(M) activists accompanied by their city secretary Ch. Babu Rao burnt an effigy near Raghavaiah Park.
Meanwhile, YSRCP workers, under the leadership of P. Gowtham Reddy, staged a protest at Budameru vanthena by displaying empty LPG cylinders.
The leaders said the ruling party had no concern for the common man and that it was bothered only about filling its coffers. Prices of petrol, diesel, and LPG were frequently increased despite a reduction in the international crude prices.
In a cascading effect, the diesel price hike would lead to increase in freight charges and prices of essential commodities as well, they lamented, expressing fears that this in turn would further stoke inflation and price rise, they said. Restrictions on the number of subsidised gas cylinders would adversely affect the livelihood of the common man, they said.
At Raghavaiah Park, CPI(M) leader Ch. Babu Rao criticised the UPA government for its ‘wrong economic and foreign policies’. He said if not rectified immediately, such anti-people policies could throw life out of gear for the common man.
CPI assistant city secretaries P. Durga Bhavani and G. Koteswara Rao and others were present at Lenin Centre. YSR CP Mahila wing convener Sunita, official spokesperson Y. Srinivas Rao, and others were present at Budameru vanthena.
Telugu Yuvatha activists protested against the hike in diesel price at Sankar Vilas Centre here. They burnt an effigy of the Central Government and demanded that the hike be rolled back immediately.
Addressing the protestors, TDP State secretary Mannava Subba Rao said the Rs 5 hike in diesel price and restriction on LPG cylinders imposed a huge burden on the masses.
