All Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday took to streets protesting the steep hike in petroleum product prices and organised rallies even as Chief Minister K. Rosaiah said government would take a decision on July 1 on reducing the impact of the hike.
The State government was expected to earn an additional Rs. 540 crore in form of sales tax as a result of the hike in petro products, Chief Minister noted, adding they would draw plans to spend this money on public welfare.
“A decision in this regard will be taken at the Cabinet meeting on July 1,” Mr. Rosaiah said.
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Meanwhile, strongly condemning the Centre’s decision to increase prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas, TDP workers organised a protest outside the Chief Rationing Officer’s office at Begumpet here and cooked food.
The protesters demanded an immediate rollback in fuel price hike. Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) chief Chiranjeevi, participated in a padayatra from Tummalapally auditorium to Sub-Collector’s office after riding a bullock cart fitted with lorry steering for some distance in Vijayawada.
Similarly, CPI State Committee secretary K. Narayana also participated in a demonstration in Vijayawada.
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Slamming the government for increasing the fuel prices, the protesters burnt the effigy of Central government.
Addressing the protesters Mr. Narayana faulted the deregulation policy announced by the Centre.
The Left parties and BJP also held demonstrations at Kukatpally, Narayanguda, RTC Cross-roads junction in Hyderabad.
In Medak district, Telangana Rashtra Samiti leader and former MLA T. Harish Rao led a protest against the hike and said their struggle would continue till the Centre withdrew it. The TDP and Left parties organised protests in Ananatapur and Kadapa districts, reports reaching here said.
The Left parties will take up the next round of agitation on June 28.