Even as the Odisha unit of BJP on Monday launched a ‘halla bol' protest in an attempt to corner the BJD-led State government over the murder of the Kalahandi school teacher Mamita Meher, the ruling party, in a counter measure, kicked-off its three-day State-wide agitations against the increase in price of LPG.
As part of the agitation, hundreds of members of the three wings of the BJD-- Biju Mahila Janata Dal, Biju Yuva Janata Dal and Biju Chhatra Janata Dal staged demonstrations outside the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) (Central Range) office at Cuttack and ADM office, Block offices and IOCL office in the Capital City of Bhubaneswar.
The members of Biju Mahila Janata Dal were spotted cooking on a chullah (earthen stove) in order to protest the steep rise in the prices of cooking gas.
“The Modi Government had launched Ujjwala Yojana and claimed that the Centre is concerned about housewives and women. But those assurances were false as he (PM Modi) has failed to regulate the price of cooking gas which is affecting each and every woman. I hope his government falls at the earliest,” said an agitating member of the BJD’s women wing who sat in demonstration outside IOCL office in Bhubaneswar.
Another BJD member said, “The price of LPG has gone up by 123 per cent in the last three years. An LPG cylinder now costs around Rs 950. Ujjwala Yojana has failed to benefit people. We protested the hike in petrol and diesel prices and it was a success. Now, the BJD is out demanding cut in cooking gas rates. I am sure the agitation will be a success this time too.”
Earlier on Sunday, party spokesperson Byomakesh Ray had announced that the BJD members will stage protests in all the blocks under the three RDC zones from Monday. The party will hold agitation outside RDC office in Sambalpur on November 23 and in Berhampur on November 24, Ray had stated.