BJD to stage 3day-long Statewide Protest against Petrol, Diesel Price hike

KalingaTV News Network

Bhubaneswar: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will stage peaceful demonstration in all 314 Blocks across Odisha from May 28 to 30 protesting against the record rise in prices of petrol and diesel.

Addressing a press meet at the BJD party office here, Brahmagiri MLA Sanjay Das Burma said, “We will stage protest near Raj Bhavan on May 28 against the recent price hike of petrol and diesel by the Modi Government.”

The BJD activists will stage dharna in all 314 blocks from May 28 to 30 in this regard, he announced.

Alleging that the BJP-led Government at the Centre is exploiting the common people by increasing the fuel prices, Das Burma said, “In February 2015, petrol retailed at Rs 56.49 per litre and diesel sold at Rs 46.01 a litre, while international crude oil prices were trending at $60.00 per barrel.

“Petrol now costs Rs. 84.99 per litre while diesel sells at Rs Rs. 72.76 per litre due to poor policy of the Modi Government,” Das Burma alleged.

The BJD leader also pointed out that excise duty on petrol which was Rs 9.2 per litre in July, 2014 has increased by 200 percent to Rs 19.48 per litre as in February this year. Similarly, excise duty on diesel has increased from Rs 3.46 per litre to Rs 15.33 per litre during the same period.

Notably, with effect from 6 AM today, petrol prices were at Rs. 77.17 a litre in Delhi, Rs. 79.83 a litre in Kolkata, Rs. 84.99 per litre in Mumbai and Rs. 80.11 per litre in Chennai, according to Indian Oil Corporation. Diesel prices were at Rs. 68.34 a litre, Rs. 70.89 a litre, Rs. 72.76 a litre and Rs. 72.14 a litre respectively.

Nayagarh MLA Arun Sahu and BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra were also present during the press meet.