Mangaluru: At a time when people across the country are devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the constant hikes in the prices of petrol and diesel with the petrol prices reaching near to the Rs 100 a litre mark in Karnataka.
In order to raise their voices against such a hike in petrol price, Congress on Friday, 11 June had organized protests with the tagline “100 NOT OUT?” all across Karnataka state, including Mangaluru, and few other states.
Leader of Congress in MCC council Vinay raj and Former MLA JR Lobo protested in Balmath against the rising price of fuel.
“The common man is in deep trouble with the rise in fuel prices. The price decline will help the common people during the pandemic. If the fuel price is reduced, it will automatically reduce the price of other commodities,” said JR Lobo.
Similarly, a padayatra was held on Monday, 14 June led by Former MLC Ivan D’Souza, joined by other Congress leaders to protest against the hike in fuel prices under the BJP-led union government. Assembling in front of Congress Bhavan at Mallikatta, Mangaluru, the padayatra proceeded to Kadri Petrol bunk, where the protesters raised their voices against the Union government.
Addressing the protesters in front of the petrol bunk Ivan D’souza said, “The BJP-led governments at the centre and in the state were ‘looting’ the people by repeatedly rising prices even though the pandemic was taking a toll on the lives and livelihoods of lakhs of people”
He further said, “If you remember that BJP in its manifesto during pre and post elections had assured the people of providing petrol and diesel at lower prices. But that was all fake promises when we look at the present outrageous prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas which has put the working class and poor into hardships,” he added.