Activists of the Bharatiya Janata Party were removed by the police at four places in the city and at six places in Coimbatore District on Friday, when they attempted to stage a demonstration as part of their jail filling agitation protesting against the hike in petroleum price and failure of the Central Government to control the spiralling prices of essential commodities.
More than 400 activists including 27 women were removed from Aatuppalam, Saravanampatty, in front of Hotel Tamil Nadu in Gandhipuram and Singanallur in Coimbatore City during their demonstration.
Police also removed activists numbering 220 including 37 from six places in Coimbatore Rural District namely Mettuppalayam, Sulur, Pollachi, near Ramapattinam check post in Vadakkipalayam police limit of Pollachi, Samathur bus stop near Kottur, Naalu Moolai Sungam in Aliyar.
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All the removed BJP activists were released in the evening, according to sources in the city.
Our Tirupur Staff Reporter adds:
A total of 153 Bharatiya Janata Party members were arrested in Tirupur on Friday when they staged ‘jail bharo’ agitation blocking road traffic to protest against inflation and recent hike in petrol prices.
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The BJP men wanted the Union Government to entirely rollback the increased price of petrol.
“Reduction of prices by an insignificant margin after a huge hike was nothing but eyewash by the United Progressive Alliance government.
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"The huge increase in petrol prices has upset the budget of people in the predominant lower and middle income groups who depend on two-wheelers and petrol cars for transport,” they said.
They lambasted the Central Government for unnecessarily interfering in the governance of state governments causing hindrance to the execution of development projects.