New Delhi: The Congress party held a nationwide protest on Friday in view of the rising prices of petrol and diesel. Congress leaders along with party workers demonstrated across the country holding placards and raising slogans against the central government.
In the national capital, the protest was led by Congress General Secretary in-charge KC VenugopalCongress Rajya Sabha MP and Delhi Congress in-charge Shaktisinh Gohil and Delhi Mahila Congress Chief Amrita Dhawan. The leaders marked the protest by riding horse-driven carts.
Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Kumar Lallu and other party workers were detained by police ahead of their protest against the hike in fuel prices. Party's media convener Lalan Kumar said the UP Congress chief was not allowed to step out of his house and later taken to the Eco Garden, along with the workers.
The Congress workers were scheduled to stage a protest at a filling station in the busy Hazratganj area and then march towards the Vidhan Sabha as part of their protest, Lalan Kumar said. I was not allowed to step out of the house in the morning and later brought to the Eco Garden where about 350 party workers, including MLC Dipak Singh and other-officer bearers were present, Lallu told over the phone.
This shows the dictatorial attitude of the government. We were stopped from raising the matter which concerns the common people of the state and the country, Lallu said.
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In Bhopal, senior leader Digvijaya Singh led the protest. "At least Rs 25 can be reduced in fuel prices by cutting excise duty. Where are those who once used to criticise the UPA government over fuel price hikes? With rising fuel prices, consumer goods are also getting expensive," Digvijaya Singh told the media.
The Madhya Pradesh police registered cases against 30 people, including Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and PC Sharma for "unlawful assembly" during a protest in Bhopal against the rising fuel prices. According to Assistant Superintend of Police (ASP) Ankit Jaiswal, cases were registered under sections 188 and 145 of the Indian Penal Code. "Cases have been registered against 30 people, including Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and PC Sharma, under IPC section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 145 (Joining or continuing in unlawful assembly, knowing it has been commanded to disperse)," ASP Jaiswal said.
In Punjab's Amritsar, Congress workers demonstrated by carrying a scrapped car on a bullock cart.
Tamil Nadu Congress president KS Alagiri along with party workers held a protest in Kilpauk, Chennai against rising fuel prices.
Goa state Congress president Girish Chodankar on Friday rode a bullock cart to a petrol pump near Panaji, to protest against the rising costs of petrol in Goa. The price of petrol in Goa is around Rs 94 per litre. The protest was a part of a nationwide exercise carried out by the Congress party to highlight rising fuel costs under the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance regime.
Read: Congress leaders to protest fuel price hike on Friday
"The ruling BJP is against the common man. The ever-rising cost of petrol is an example of that. People will have to resort to riding bullock carts because petrol is so expensive," Chodankar said.
(With inputs from agencies)
