Impact on common man fuels protests

A day after diesel price was hiked, transport authorities contemplated the impact on fare, while political parties came out on the street in protest.

A day after diesel price was hiked, transport authorities contemplated the impact on fare, while political parties came out on the street in protest.

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The BEST ruled out any immediate hike in bus fare, but with losses mounting, senior officials said a hike may be inevitable. The Maharashtra State Transport Corporation, however, said a hike was on the cards and it was working on a fare revision proposal. Taxi and autorickshaw unions said the hike in diesel price will impact the cost of living, which may make a case for fare revision.

The Shiv Sena took out a protest march in central Mumbai to protest the cap on subsidised LPG cylinders. The protesters conveyed their displeasure by cooking chapatis over firewood. In Pune, the MNS activists protested by serving black tea brewed over an earthen stove.

The BJP blamed the Congress for the hike and threatened a weeklong nationwide agitation from September 17. Even the NCP, which partners the Congress in the state, opposed the hike.

“How does a common man cook his one square meal? We may be a part of the government, but if the government is being unfair to the poor, we have to come out on the streets,” said Vidya Chavan, legislator and chief of NCP women’s wing.