Bubaneswar: Protesting hike in price of petrol and diesel, the Biju Janata Dal has called for a five-hour hartal at all blocks and district headquarters across the State tomorrow.
Emergency services like hospitals have been excluded from the hartal even though it will be completely peaceful, BJD spokesperson Sanjay Dasburma said.
"The hartal will be observed in a complete non-violent manner from 7am to 12 noon. I request people from all walks of life, government employees and workers of other political parties to support the hartal to make it a success," Dasburma said at a press meet.
Coming down heavily on BJP leader and Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for his statement on the hike in fuel price, the regional party alleged that VAT amount on petrol-diesel is higher in BJP-ruled States than Odisha which stands at only 26.1%.
On the other hand, BJP alleged secret pact between Congress and BJD as the principal Opposition party on Saturday raised the fuel price hike instead of a discussion on flyover collapse in the Monsoon session of the Assembly.
"A secret alliance between Congress and BJD has been continuing since 2009. The Congress suppressed the flyover collapse issue by raising the fuel price hike in the House on Saturday. It always tries to protect the CM and many of its leaders are following the footprint of Bhupinder Singh," BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said.
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