Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 24:- The unprecedented hike in petrol prices has evoked wide spread resentment with people taking to streets in protest at different parts of Jammu city today.
Over 200 BJP activists led by district president, Jammu Rajesh Gupta held a demonstration against steep hike in petrol prices. The Party activists took out a procession from BJP Headquarters here to Kachi Chawni Chowk.
Raising slogans against the UPA Government, for unprecedented hike in petrol prices, the BJP said the it will make the survival of common man who is already under the burden of price hike, inflation and non availability of essential commodity, essential services like water and power and increasing corruption at all levels.
To protest against the hike the BJP activists were riding on horses and carts with pal cards in their hands. Rajesh Gupta said instead of looking into the problems of the people the UPA Government has added to the woes of the people by putting extra burden on them.
BJP leaders Suresh Jamwal, Jaideep Sharma Vinay Gupta, Karan Singh, Sanjay Baru, Sureshta Jamwal, Sheela Handoo, Vikram Randhwa, Surinder Choudhary, Dinesh Gupta, Balwan Singh, Ashwani Mahajan, Pradhuman Singh, Manohar Lal, Sat Choudhary, Rakesh Mishra, Ramesh Jasrotia were among others who participated in protest.
Another demonstration was staged by Jammu Kashmir Democratic Front from Raghunath Chowk to Purnai Mandi. The protestors were raising slogans against the UPA Government and price hike. They said unprecedented hike in the petrol prices has led to the worries of common man and made his survival difficult. Instead of containing the prices under whose burden the people were reeling already the UPA has added more burden on common man.
The JKDF leaders who participated in the demonstration included senior leader Surinder Sharma, district president Arun Khanna, senior leaders Murari Lal, Krishan Gupta, Prashant Puri, Shurti Khajuria, Monika Gupta and Bino Khanna were among others who took part in the protest.
Another demonstration was held by Rashtrawadi Shiv Sena (RSS) at Purani Mandi Chowk against the irrational hike in the petrol prices by Union Government. The demonstration was led by Vipin Hindu its president and Vikas Dewan general secretary.
Raising slogans against the UPA Government the demonstrators demanded roll back of the hike immediately failing which the people will launch a massive agitation who are already reeling under the burden of infiltration. The Party also demanded that the State Government should remove the VAT on petrol to give some relief to general public.
Kuldeep Luthra, Ashwani Gupta, Shiv Kumar, Rakesh Kak, Ravi Verma, Rajinder Gupta, Rajinder Singh Bali were among others who participated in the protest.
Another demonstration was held by Jammu West Assembly Movement led by Sunil Dimple at New Plots. The protestors also took out a funeral procession of the UPA Government, which has added to the miseries of common man due to unprecedented hike in petrol prices and other commodities.
Addressing the protestors Dimple also gave a call of Jammu bandh on May 31 in protest against the rising prices and increase in petrol prices. He made an appeal to the people to make the Bandh a total success.
Dimple also appealed the people of entire country to reject the UPA during elections as it has added to sufferings of people instead of mitigating them.
Dogra Front and Shiv Sena Bal Thakery activists also took out a joint procession under the leadership of Ashok Gupta from Parade to City Chowk against price hike petrol price by Rs 7.50 which will add to the woes of the common man.
Addressing protestors Ashok Gupta said the way the petrol and diesel prices are increased the day will not be far away when the petrol will cost Rs 100 per litre. He said that when UPA came to power petrol was Rs 40 a litre and during its tenure its cost has hiked 100 percent.
Meanwhile Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jammu in a meeting here today held under the chairmanship of Y V Sharma its president, members expressed grave resentment against the unprecedented hike in petrol prices which is the highest one time hike ever.
Mr Sharma asserted that this hike will not remain confined to the vehicles fuel but will have a cascading effect which will break the back of common man who is already groaning under the pain of inflation and rising prices.
He said that the claims of the Government about the raising quality of life of the people is falsified by such actions.
BJP general secretary Sat Sharma (CA) has also lambasted the UPA Government for increasing prices of petrol in an unprecedented way and demanded the roll back of the same.
In a statement issued here today he said the people of country will not forgive the UPA for adding to the sufferings by hiking the prices of essential commodities including petrol and diesel several times in a year.
Jammu Kashmir Peoples Front chairman Satish Poonchi has also condemned the hike in petrol prices saying the Congress led UPA Government, which was talking high of socialism has been exposed for its pro-capitalist policies.
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