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Wednesday, Jun 22, 2005

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National

BJP protests against hike in fuel prices

Staff Reporter

"It would make life difficult for the common man; cost of essential items will go up"

— Photo: AP

FACING THE BARRAGE: Police use water cannon against Bharatiya Janata Party members protesting against the hike in petroleum prices, in New Delhi on Tuesday.

NEW DELHI: Hundreds of activists of the Delhi Pradesh Yuva Morcha of the Bharatiya Janata Party were detained while they were protesting against the steep hike in fuel prices at Jantar Mantar here on Tuesday.

According to police, around 600 protesters were detained after they tried to break through the barricades on Parliament Street. Water cannons were used to bring the crowd under control. Earlier, addressing the gathering, BJP national general secretary Arun Jaitley said that the hike in petrol and diesel prices would make life more difficult for the common man. The people were reeling under the burden of taxes imposed by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government and with the hike in fuel prices, the cost of essential items would go up.

Left parties criticised

Mr. Jaitley alleged that the Left parties were hand in glove with the Congress; the hike had been announced only after the Kolkata municipal elections.

Delhi BJP president Harsh Vardhan said the UPA Government had increased the fuel prices for the fourth time in a year.

While there had been a 33 per cent increase in the price of diesel, that of petrol had gone up by 25 per cent.

Dr. Vardhan charged the Left parties with adopting double standards. "If the parties had sympathy for the common man, then they should have withdrawn support to the Government."

They said a nationwide agitation would be launched to force the Government to withdraw the price hike.

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