Countrywide protests against fuel price hike

<< The Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party activists protest the hilke in petroleum products in Mumbai.
Various political parties, including the BJP and Left parties, have slammed the ruling government for the hike in prices of petroleum products.
Political parties, including the Left and BJP, today came down heavily on the government for striking “another blow” on the common man by hiking the fuel price and staged demonstrations in many parts of the country demanding its immediate rollback.
Slamming the government for the hike, the Left parties asked all their units to immediately conduct hartals, demonstrations and other protest actions.
The CPI(M), CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc said it was “another cruel blow” to the common people as the increase in diesel price would raise transportation cost and affect farmers, while those in kerosene and LPG cylinders would burden the poor.
CPI National Secretary D. Raja accused the government of kneeling down before market forces and corporate houses and demanded immediate roll back of prices.
The Central government on Friday increased diesel price by Rs. 3 per litre, domestic LPG by Rs. 50 per cylinder and kerosene by Rs. 2 per litre.
In the national capital, BJP activists marched towards Parliament but were prevented by police who resorted to use of water canons to disperse the protesters.
The activists tried to jump the barricade and march towards Parliament but police deployed in large numbers prevented them. When the protesters did not stop, police resorted to use of water canons.
Chanting slogans against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA president Sonia Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, they alleged price rise have broken the back of common man.The activists also courted arrest.
The ruling SAD in Punjab and main opposition INLD in Haryana slammed the Centre for effecting “hefty and unwarranted” hike in fuel prices, terming the decision as "anti-people" and demanded a rollback.