Yet another hike in petrol prices which came into effect from Thursday midnight has triggered a chorus of protest from a variety of socio-political organisation with the workers of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) reacting quick with a protest staged at the Kozhikode railway station on Thursday night. They blocked the Yeshwantpur Express for nearly an hour demanding a rollback of the price hike.
DYFI district unit president M. Gireesh and secretary P.A. Mohammed Riyaz led the blockade. More than 100 workers took part in the action.
Workers of the Solidarity Youth Movement took out a demonstration in the city protesting against the price hike late on Thursday.
The protest snowballed on Friday with the workers of several political parties and trade unions taking it to the street.
Workers of the All India Youth Federation (AIYF) stormed the divisional office of Indian Oil Corporation Ltd at Eranhipalm raising slogans against the UPA government and damaging the office properties.
In another instance of protest, autorickshaw driver the city under the aegis of the CITU interrupted vehicular traffic on the Palayam Road for 15 minutes. They lay down on the road raising anti-government slogans.
Workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party also joined the agitation by staging a protest march to the income tax office in the city. BJP State unit secretary V.V. Rajan led the protest.
Meanwhile, in a statement, IUML State general secretary K.P.A. Majeed urged the Union government to immediately review its decision which gave oil companies a free hand in deciding the fuel prices. “There is no justification for such a mindless increase in the fuel price,” he said.
The Yuva Janata Dal, LIC Employees Union, and the All Kerala Consumer Goods Distributors Association were among the others to condemn the fuel price hike.
