Petrol price hike fuels widespread protests

Amritsar today witnessed various protests against the hike in petrol prices. The CPI and the Kisan Sangharsh Committee, which were at the forefront of the protest, demanded a rollback of the hike. CPI activists took part in a protest march against the UPA government's decision. Farmer organisations burnt the central government's effigy.

Amritsar witnessed various protests against the hike in petrol prices on Thursday. The CPI and the Kisan Sangharsh Committee, which were at the forefront of the protest, demanded a rollback of the hike.

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CPI activists took part in a protest march against the UPA government's decision. Farmer organisations burnt the central government's effigy.

CPI district secretary Amarjit Singh Asal asked the Punjab government to reduce taxes on petrol to provide respite to the common man.

Farmer organisations, which held a protest against the UPA government outside Hall Gate, said the hike in petrol prices was a result of "the wrong policies" of the government. They feared that the prices of diesel and LPG could also go up.

Meanwhile, BJP executive member and Punjab Small-Scale Industries and Export Corporation (PSSIEC) chairman Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina said that the unprecedented hike in petrol prices had exposed the "anti-poor" face of the Congress-led UPA government.

Terming the hike as unwarranted, he said it would have a cascading effect on the prices of essential commodities.