| Cong stages protest against hike in fuel prices, Toll Plazas | | |  EARLY TIMES REPORT
Kathua, June 25: Activists of District Congress Committee (DCC) Kathua led by its President Dr Manohar Lal Sharma today held a protest demonstration against steep hike in fuel prices and proposal of establishing more Toll Plazas in J&K.
Protesting Congress workers shouted slogans against the central government and burnt its effigy for continuous price hike in petrol, diesel and LPG Gas besides setting up of few moreToll Plazas in J&K.
Addressing the protesters, Dr Manohar Lal Sharma said that the continuous rise of fuel prices in the country is matter of concern for all of us, adding that since oil companies on June 7 restarted revising prices in line with costs after ending an 82-day hiatus in rate revision, it has taken diesel prices to fresh highs.
He said that Petrol and Diesel prices too are at a two-year high, adding that the increase is “insensitive” which will burn a hole in common man’s pocket as the hike in fuel prices came at a time when the country is facing unprecedented public health, economic and social challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the entire country is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and its poor, including migrants, shopkeepers and small businessmen, were virtually penniless, the Government of India is “fleecing” 130 crore Indians by insurmountably raising prices of petrol and diesel, said Sharma.
Referring to the establishment of Toll Plazas in J&K, Sharma said that NHAI has increased 5% toll charges on 3 Toll Plazas within a distance of 130 kms (Lakhanpur, Thandi Khui & Ban) which is also a clear violation of the norms. Government is looting the commuters, transporters who all already paying to govt in many other forms of taxes, he added.
This can be termed as organized loot .Therefore we request to look into matter and order for removal of such toll plazas thus giving relief to the people of the union territory of Jammu & Kashmir, he said.
Subash Gupta, GL Chalotra, Pankaj Dogra, Narinder Kahjuria, Romi Sharma, BL Kandley, Mohinder Pal, Dalbir Sethi and others were aslo present during the protest.
|
|
