The steep hike in oil and diesel prices, effected by petroleum companies on Friday, the second in a fortnight, evoked strong protest from political parties on Saturday.
The CPI(M)’s protest rally through the main thoroughfares of the city paraded a motorcycle hung from two wooden beams and carried by four ‘pall-bearers’.
CPI protesters displayed posters showing the comparative prices of petrol in different countries.
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Congress activists protested too.
City Congress president Behara Bhaskara Rao issued a statement demanding that the government roll back the hike in prices as oil companies had no justification over it.
“International prices of petro products have not increased,” he pointed out.
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Condemning the increase in the price of diesel, CPI (M) district secretary B. Ganga Rao said that it would lead to increase in transport charges and consequently increase in price of essentials.
‘Anti-people policies’
He also demanded that the police withdraw charges framed against party workers who participated in a protest against the price hike.
“The Modi Government is following anti-people policies and the hike of petro prices within a fortnight exemplifies it,” Mr. Ganga Rao said in a statement.