Cuttack: Vehicular traffic was affected for a few hours here today following a road blockade staged by Congress activists at Balikuda Chhak protesting the 'abnormal' price hike in petroleum products.
Holding the BJP-led Central Government and Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan responsible for the hike, hundreds of members of Cuttack Nagar Congress Committee took to the streets carrying banners, flags and burnt tyres to mark their protest.
“Petrol prices have touched Rs 80 and diesel Rs 76 respectively. The government has completely failed to control the economy of the country. The value of rupees against dollar has considerably decreased,” rued Congress Cuttack city president Mohammed Moquim
Demanding resignation of the authorities concerned, the Nagar Congress and Pradesh Congress Committee threatened to intensify the strike if petrol and diesel are not brought under Goods and Service Tax (GST).
Reacting to the protest, BJP unit spokesperson Golak Mohapatra said that if the Congress is really concerned about the problems faced by the people, their leaders should move a proposal to bring petroleum products under GST.
"The hike in prices of petroleum products in the country is the result of the rise in prices of crude oil in international market. The Centre is concerned about it and is chalking plans to control the fuel prices," Mohapatra said.
Meanwhile, hundreds of vehicles on the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack national highway remained stranded for hours in view of the strike. The blockade was cleared only after the district administration intervened, informed sources.