IT Correspondent
Mumbai, Feb 5:
Legislators and key functionaries of the ruling Shiv Sena on Friday led protests across Maharashtra as part of a state-wide campaign against the rising fuel and cooking gas prices and warned it would intensify the protests if the Centre does not take steps to reduce the prices.
The Shiv Sena elected representatives organised cycle march as well as bullock cart march as a protest against the fuel price hike. Petrol price in Maharashtra was highest in Parbhani district at Rs.96 per litre.
Sena leader Ashish Chemburkar, who led protests in Byculla in Mumbai, said the Centre has been increasing the fuel prices since the COVID-19 lockdown was lifted. He added soon the petrol price would reach Rs 100 per litre. “The Union government has been looting the common man for months by increasing the fuel prices… This has to stop. Shiv Sena will intensify protests if the Centre does not arrest the price rise.”
Chemburkar said the price of petrol after a reduction in the state tax would be Rs.92 per litre. “Do the ones who are seeking the reduction in the state’s tax think fuel price of Rs.92 is less?”
However Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devendra Fadnavis said the state government should reduce its share of taxes on fuel to bring the prices down.
BJP agitation against power bills
In another development BJP leaders held protest agitations against Maharashtra government’s refusal to give refusing exemption on power bills remained unpaid during lockdown, on Friday. At some places, BJP activists “locked” the branch offices of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) “Mahavitaran” in different parts of the state. Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiyya was detained and later released when he attempted to “lock” the “Mahavitaran” office at Bhandup in North East Mumbai.
