Oppn to take on Modi Govt over fuel price hike on Sept 10 Bharat Bandh

New Delhi: Besides the UPA constituents, the Left Parties and TMC declared they will protest against rising fuel prices; the September 10 ‘Bharat Bandh’ called by the Congress will become another platform of opposition parties to show their strength against the Narendra Modi government.

The Congress has announced the Bharat Bandh against the rising prices of petrol and diesel along with essential commodities, the party accused that the government had increased the excise duty on the crude oil products, which will further escalate the fuel prices.

The main opposition party also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers for their silence on the fuel prices and decline of the Rupee against the Dollar.

The Congress said ‘it is not a call by the Congress party, but the people of the nation’ against the government and requested all the opposition parties to join hands.

While the Left parties announced a separate nationwide Hartal on September 10 against the Modi government, the ruling party of the West Bengal, Trinamool Congress has announced that it will organise street protest across the state and refused a complete shut-down.

The Mamata Banerjee-led state government also directed all employees to be present in office on September 10 and that no leave will be granted.

According to party leader Partha Chatterjee, bandh is a wastage of working hours and acts against the interest of the state.

The Left parties will organise ‘protest hartal’ against the Union government, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) said “the exponentially rising prices of petroleum products is having a crippling effect on the livelihood of crores of Indians”.

“In protest against this situation, the Left parties have decided to call for a nationwide hartal on September 10”, the CPI(M) said.

The Opposition party in Tamil Nadu and one of the constituent in the UPA, the DMK has also extended its support.

“DMK will extend complete support to the Bharat Bandh call by the Indian National Congress protesting against the BJP government for steep rise in prices of petrol-diesel. I urge the people and party cadres to make the bandh on 10th Sept a big success”, said DMK leader MK Stalin.

Another UPA partner, NCP, stated that the party will support the bharat bandh.

Congress’ alliance partner in Karnataka - Janata Dal (S) also extended its support to the Bharat Bandh.

JD(S) state president AH Vishwanath said the party will stage protests in all districts and state capital on September 10.

Another UPA partner Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) stated that the party will support the Bharat Bandh.

“NCP appeals everybody for their cooperation and support to make this bandh a grand success”, the party said in a statement.

Rebel JD(U) leader and patron of Loktantrik Janata Dal, Sharad Yadav tweeted, “I appeal all citizens of this country to support Bharat Bandh called on 10 September 2018 against the record hike in the prices of diesel and petrol in the history. Neither this Government passed the benefit of low international prices of oil earlier to the consumers nor reduced the taxes thereon”.

Taking on the Modi government the Congress spoksperson RPN Singh on Friday said “when rupee was at Rs 60 a dollar during the UPA rule, Mr Modi, who was then the Gujarat Chief Minister, had said that rupee is in hospital. Now, under the rule of the NDA, the price of petrol and LPG prices has hit the highest in 70 years. Also, the Rupee has witnessed a sharp fall against the US Dollar.

Escalating the attack he further said, “if at 60 rupees to a Dollar, the rupee had reached the hospital where has it reached today. Today when the oil prices are hitting the roof and the rupee is at an all time low, there is no statement from the PM or any other BJP leader.”

Meanwhile, first time in the history the price of petrol crossed the Rs 80 mark in the national capital with an increase of 39 paise. (UNI)