Protest across Country against Sky-High Prices of Petrol and Diesel

FARMERS across the country, responding to the joint call given by All India Kisan Mahasabha, AIARLA and RYA, protested on 27 June 2020 against the sky-rocketing prices of petrol and diesel. Prime Minister Modi’s effigies were burnt at hundreds of places and farmers asked the Prime Minister for answers to the question, “Why are you selling petrol worth Rs 18 at Rs 180”?

The protesting farmers said that crude oil prices have fallen drastically at the international level; but the Modi government has raised petrol-diesel prices exorbitantly and looted the common man’s pocket. The hiked diesel prices have resulted in an increase of Rs 1000 in outlay expenditure per acre for farmers.

The Corona pandemic has already broken the backs of farmers, workers, students and youth. At such a time, this knock-out punch in the form of sky-high prices clearly shows that this government does not bother about the interest and welfare of the common man.

The brutal lathi charge by police in BJP-ruled States on political activists protesting against the hiked petrol-diesel prices is an extremely condemnable and anti-democratic act.

Bihar

Protests against petrol-diesel prices hike were held across Bihar at villages, chattis, bazaars and District HQs. The protests were spread across all Districts including Rohtas, Buxar, Kaimur, Ara, Jehanabad, Arwal, Aurangabad, Patna, Nawada, Nalanda, Patna City, Beguserai, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani, Siwan and Purnea. The protests included placards, posters, slogans and effigy burnings of PM Modi. The protestors pointed out that this is the first time that diesel prices have overtaken petrol prices. Prices have fallen the world over but in India they have been hiked sky high, breaking the back of the common people already burdened by the Corona crisis and Lockdown. Petrol-diesel were deliberately kept out of the ambit of GST so that the government and private companies could loot the people at will.

Uttar Pradesh

Protests against petrol-diesel price hike were held at various places in Uttar Pradesh and memorandums addressed to the President were submitted. Protests were organized and effigies of PM Modi burnt at various places in Uttar Pradesh including Ghazipur (Jamaniya), Azamgarh, Mathura, Chandauli (Sadar, Chakiya, Sakaldiha, Chahaniya, Sahebganj and Naugarh Blocks), Devariya, Ballia, Gorakhpur, Sitapur, Banaras, Mirzapur, Ayodhya, Allahabad and Rae Bareli, across various Blocks and villages in the above mentioned Districts. Farmers and agrarian workers participated in large numbers. During the protest and effigy burning of PM Modi at Sitapur, cases were slapped against seven activists including District Secretary Arjun Lal by the Hargaon Thana police. Farmers are not only being forced to bear the burden of price rise, but being punished by the Modi and Yogi regimes for raising their voices.

Rajasthan

Kisan Mahasabha, AIARLA and RYA organized protests against skyrocketing petrol-diesel prices at dozens of villages in Jhunjhunu District. Physical distancing and other Lockdown rules were strictly observed during the protests and PM Modi’s effigies were burnt at many places. The protests at Jhunjhunu District HQ, Ghardana Khurd Gram Panchayat in Buhana Block, Jharoda, Badbar, Moi Bharu, Vharaas, Loyal, Chanana, Bhukana, Chudela, Deota, Arya Nagar, Tatija, and other places saw the participation of farmers in good numbers. The protestors said that the hiked prices of diesel would mortally affect farmers.

Protests were also held in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Haryana, and Punjab.

The main demands of the protesting farmers are:

• Slash petrol and diesel prices immediately by two-thirds, making the price equal to that of aviation fuel.
• Stop putting the increased burden of exorbitant petrol-diesel prices on the people, who are already grappling with distress caused by the Lockdown.

Odisha

CPIML held a protest in Rayagada against Diesel and Petrol Price Hike. Hundreds of people came out in streets of Gunupur town shouting slogans demanding withdrawal of price hike. CPIML central committee member Tirupati Gamango and addresed the gathering where he demanded to bring petroleum product under the ambit of GST. He said that this unprecedented price hike has further added to the woes of the toiling masses who are already facing difficult times. Com Sambara Sabar and Brundaban Bedika also addressed the protesters.

Protests were also held in other states.