DIMAPUR, MAY 31 (MExN): In a symbolic protest against the steep petrol price hike, the state BJP on Thursday launched a campaign on horse cart from its office at Super Market Dimapur till DC office where a memorandum addressed to the Governor, demanding complete roll back of Petrol price, was submitted to the DC.
The UPA government recently hiked Petrol price by Rs 7.50 per litre inviting outright criticism from the opposition BJP. BJP party workers travelled on carts drawn by horses via Church Road with placards that read, “Stop Petrol hike,” “BJP demands roll back,” “UPA Govt All Out,” “Nation need powerful govt” etc.
Addressing media persons prior to the ‘pedal yatra,’ BJP president Chuba said the purpose of the bandh was to protest the steep rise in petrol price in India and to demand a roll back in the petrol prices. He also highlighted about the precarious economic conditions that India is facing.
“When other nations are converting sagging economy into a fast growing economy, our PM who is an economist has done the exact opposite and transformed our country into crisis ridden economy,” Chuba said. He pointed out that India’s GDP has plunged to 7% low, exports were down by 6%, revenue deficit stood at 3.4% and that consumer’s inflation was in a pitiable state. Such is the sorry state of affairs of the country’s economy, Chuba said and added that the UPA government has forgotten the mandate of the people and converting the country into a fascist country.
In its memorandum, the BJP demanded that the state government’s tax share of 20% on petrol be exempted to provide relief to the consumers. Earlier, Chuba said the state government was getting a tax share of 13.25% on Diesel and 4.75% on LPG. He said if all such taxes are exempted, the consumers would be relieved to a large extent.
Demanding complete roll back of petrol price, the BJP in its memorandum stated that the fuel price hike could reverberate through the waves of price rise of all consumer and essential commodities that will surely take effect in the few weeks from now. The recent fuel price hike is enormously steep in comparison to the past and has therefore driven the consumers to anguish, the BJP memorandum stated.
