Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 21: Expressing concern over the sharp rise in prices of petrol, diesel and gas besides other essential commodities during the last few years of the BJP regime, Panthers Party activists held a protest demonstration, here today.
Spearheaded by Harsh Dev Singh, Chairman-JKNPP and other leaders, the JKNPP activists staged vociferous protest demonstration at Exhibition Ground Jammu and also torched an effigy of BJP Government to express their resentment over the current inflation trends of fuel and gas in the country.
They took out a procession from Press Club and started march towards Civil Secretariat but were restrained by a huge contingent of security personnel enroute resulting in minor scuffles with the cops. The protestors raised slogans against price rise and BJP Government.
Speaking to media, Harsh Dev Singh said that with hefty excise duty, road cess, VAT on fuel and additional farm cess being levied, the petrol and diesel prices had sky rocketed to over Rs 101 per litre and Rs 90 per litre respectively. “Not only had petrol and diesel prices skyrocketed during the past few years but ethanol mixed and adulterated fuel is being sold to people at exorbitant prices. The adulteration in fuel is causing damage to vehicle engines besides resulting in several other complications with an unconcerned regime refusing to address the peoples’ woes”, rued Mr Singh.
He added that the price of domestic LPG cylinder had further soared to above Rs 900 per cylinder. Regretting that the common man’s life had become miserable in view of the raging inflation, he pointed out that there had been frequent surges in the prices of onions, tomatoes etc during the BJP rule which had rendered the popular vegetables beyond the reach of people.
“The astounding rates of groceries including dairies, cereals, pulses and edible oils have also broken the spine of common man. With the mustard oil hitting Rs 220 a litre, the budget of a common household has crashed leaving housewives hapless,” lamented Harsh. He said that inflation had become a benchmark of BJP’s governance and looting people by burning holes in their pockets has become synonymous with Saffron party.
Others, spoke on the occasion included Rajesh Padgotra, Gagan Pratap Singh and Khajoor Singh.
Follow our WhatsApp channel