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Bhubaneswar: Protesting steep rise in the petrol and diesel prices, activists of the Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) and the Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD) have staged peaceful demonstrations in front of all the petrol pumps across the state on Saturday, which will continue till 12 am.
Members of the party distributed leaflets to public making them aware on the frequent hike in the price of petroleum products and expose the Central Government that has failed to take steps to reduce the price.
The price of petrol has been hiked the maximum in 2017-18 financial year in comparison to last four financial years, while diesel prices have also topped all past records, informed sources.
Stating that frequent increase in fuel price has been adversely affecting the common people, the BJD leaders said they would continue their agitation until the fuel prices are brought down.
BCJD president Rana Pratap Patra alleged,” BCJD and BYJD have been staging protests against the Centre but that didn’t have any effect. Now we have decided to make the people aware of the Centre's hidden agenda and that is why we have initiated this public awareness programme through demonstrations."
“I still remember when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, fuel price in the international market reduced and he called himself a ‘Naseeb Waala’. Now, when the international price is stable, for whose benefit is the Centre increasing the fuel price?” he questioned.
On the other hand, the Bharatiya Janta Party termed the demonstration of the ruling BJD as a political gimmick and alleged that the party is trying to divert the attention of the people from its failure in dealing with the real issues plaguing the state.
“BJD is only doing politics in Odisha. The party is staging protest to politicise the matter and gain the attention of public. If at all they want to make the people aware, they should clearly mention how much VAT Odisha government is getting and how much excise the Centre is getting. Then only, the people will come to know.”
