By IANS,
Bhopal: The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday held rallies in many districts of Madhya Pradesh to protest the hike in petrol price.
Hundreds of party activists held a rally here, with many riding bullock carts.
BJP state president Prabhat Jha took part in protests in Sagar district, where he is also conducting a ‘koyla satyagrah’ (coal strike )against the central government.
The biggest demonstration was held at Indore, where thousands of BJP cadres protested by riding bullock-carts and bikes.
“This is fourth time petrol prices are hiked in a year. As it is the poor are suffering. This hike would make their life hellish. This UPA government has no right to continue,” BJP government spokesperson Narrotam Mishra said.
The protests come against the backdrop of a decision of the three state-run oil firms – Indian Oil Corp, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum – to hike prices of petrol by up to Rs.3 per per litre.
The last fuel hike was June 25, when the government ended state controls on pricing of petrol. The overnment then also increased the prices of diesel, cooking gas and kerosene at that time, and said it would eventually give up control on pricing of diesel as well.