Protests erupt against fuel price hike, Cong workers detained across country
As the diesel price scaled a new high on Monday (June 29), Delhi Congress leaders staged a protest across the national capital against hike in prices, raising slogans against the BJP-led central government and the AAP dispensation in Delhi.
According to a price notification of state oil marketing companies, diesel prices were hiked for the 22nd time in just over three weeks, taking the cumulative increase to Rs 11.14 per litre, petrol price was increased by 5 paise per litre across the country.
Delhi Congress president Anil Kumar and party workers, however, were detained later by police at a petrol pump near Parmanand hospital. Kumar said police detained him and party workers as they tried to go to Raj Niwas, which is Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal’s official residence, to lodge their protest against the rising prices of petrol and diesel. Police said they were detained around 10 am and would be released soon.
Protesting against the fuel price hike, the Delhi Congress chief, said, “People are already suffering from coronavirus and consequences of lockdown. At such a time, the rise in prices of petrol and diesel by the Modi government and Kejriwal government in Delhi is adding to their woes.”
Delhi: Members of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee detained by police while protesting near IP College against continuous hike in fuel prices. pic.twitter.com/2vLhaJruwo
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020
In Delhi, a litre of petrol now comes for Rs 80.43 per litre as compared to Rs 80.38 earlier. Diesel rates have been increased to Rs 80.53 per litre from Rs Rs 80.40. The Delhi Congress leaders, along with party workers, held protests at petrol pumps in all the districts of the city. Party leader Parvez Ahmed was also detained at Maurice Nagar police station.
Similarly, Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda and nearly 50 other party workers were detained in Ahmedabad while they were trying to take out a rally against the ruling BJP over the fuel price hike, police said.
They were not given permission for such a gathering, a senior police official said. The opposition party also organised similar protests in Rajkot, Vadodara and Surat districts of Gujarat and demanded roll back of the hike.
In Ahmedabad, Chavda and 50 other Congress workers, including MLA Gyasuddin Shaikh, were detained near Sardar Baug area while trying to take out a rally against the increased prices of petrol and diesel. Police said the demonstrators were not given permission for such a gathering or for taking out a rally.
Ahmedabad: Police detains Congress workers protesting against continuous hike in fuel prices. Congress has called for a nationwide protest over an increase in fuel prices amid #COVID19 pandemic. #Gujarat pic.twitter.com/O2ytYDCBsd
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020
“The Congress workers gathered in a busy area without any permission. We have detained nearly 50 protesters, including Chavda and Shaikh, for holding protests and trying to take out a rally without permission,” Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone 2, Dharmendra Sharma said. Before being detained, Chavda slammed the government over the fuel price hike and denying permission for the protest.
“This government is not ready to understand the plight of the people, who were first hit by coronavirus and now by fuel price hike. We will continue to raise the issues concerning citizens, who were literally abandoned by this government. We want the Centre to roll back the hike,” Chavda told reporters before his detention.
Maharashtra: Congress leaders including State Minister Balasaheb Thorat stage a protest in Pune against the increase in fuel prices. pic.twitter.com/WuoFBNnnaN
— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2020
Congress workers in other parts of the state were also detained for holding protests over the issue, officials said.
(With inputs from agencies)
