PROTEST: Democratic Youth Federation of India activists taking out a procession in Madikeri on Friday.

MADIKERI: Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) activists from different parts of Kodagu held a procession on Friday on the main streets of the city here demanding that the Union Government withdraw the recent increase in fuel prices.

Waving placards and banners and shouting slogans against the Union Government, the activists started the procession from the Gandhi Maidan and marched to the private bus stand, before converging on General Thimayya Circle to stage a "rasta roko." A memorandum was later presented to the district administration. Left party and DYFI leaders, Peter Lobo, Ramanath and Bharath, led the procession.

They alleged the Union Government increased had hiked fuel prices despite protests. In the garb of an international oil price hike, the Centre had imposed a huge burden on the common man, they said. The Government could have averted the crisis by resorting to various other means, but it did not, they said.

Accordingly, bus fares, both KSRTC and private, had gone up in Kodagu. It had burdened the people, especially the poor, they said. The life of the common person was becoming insecure with every passing day, they alleged.

The State Government should bring down KSRTC bus fares and direct private bus owners to do the same, they demanded. The State Government should reduce road tax, as well as tax on automobile spare parts. Both the Centre and the State Government must decrease taxes imposed on petrol and diesel, they demanded.

They added that the roads in the district should be repaired as soon as possible.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail