Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 4: Congress leaders and activists continued protest against hike in fuel prices for sixth consecutive day across Jammu region and held strong protest demonstrations at Jammu, Bishnah and Khour today.
The party organised massive protest programmes at Nanak Nagar and Talab Tillo, Jammu under the leadership of PCC vice president Raman Bhalla and DCC Jammu Urban president, Yogesh Sawhney. PCC chief GA Mir was leading the protests.
Speaking on the occasion, Mir stated that week long protest throughout the country was as an attempt “to awaken the Government to the hardships of the people”. The continuously rising price of diesel and petrol, for 22 consecutive day has increased the burden on the local people. BJP Govt on one hand increased the fuel prices and additionally increased transport fair by 30% in Jammu. No money is percolating down to the middle class or poor people,” Mir said.
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PCC chief said high retail price of fuel continues to impact the common man even though global market has thrown enough cues for a sharp cut in the price of auto fuels.While the Coronavirus scare and continued flat demand for oil has pushed down, the global crude price that has fallen sharply by over 24 per cent to $ 53 a barrel over last one month, there has been less than proportional decrease in retail price of petrol and diesel with oil companies building a cushion for possible increase in oil prices later this year. It is important that prices are reduced because economic activity is at its lowest, Mir added.
Raman Bhalla said that unprecedented hike in petrol and diesel prices has hammered the people at the time of economic hardship imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said due to the Coronavirus crisis, demand for fuel has fallen all over the world. Despite having a full stock of fuel, the Government has burdened the common people by increasing fuel prices. The Govt must roll back the hiked prices, he added.
At Khour town, Block Congress Committee held protest demonstration against the price hike of fuel. Former DyCM Tara Chand was leading the protest. The protesters were carrying banners and placards depicting their demand regarding roll back on the prices of diesel and petrol.
Tara Chand described the BJP Government as anti- people and alleged that it has failed on all the fronts. The people have been facing brunt of price hike of every item and increasing fuel price would further affect each sector. Senior leaders Suram Singh, Balbir Singh and Dwarka Nath also accompanied.
District Congress Committee (Jammu Rural) led by Hari Singh Chib and Mohinder Bhardwaj, senior Congress leader held protest march from Tara Chowk, Bishnah to Tehsil Office and submitted a memorandum to the Tehsildar against the continuous increase in the prices of petrol and diesel, despite a regular fall in prices of crude oil in international market.
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