'Congress Stages Massive Protest in Jammu Against NDA Government Under Mehngai Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan'

District Congress Committee Jammu Urban on Thursday held a massive Protest against the excessive price rise of Petrol, Diesel and Gas under the BJP government at Main Road Digana. The protest was led by Working President PCC Raman Bhalla and Former Minister J&K Yogesh Sawhney General Secretary PCC InCharge District President Jammu (Urban). Under the Mehngai Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan of the Congress party, protests were held across the country by various units of the party. The protest at Digiana was organised by Dwarka Choudhary Councillor JMC, Chief Whip Congress party Raising slogans and carrying placards, they shouted slogans marking their protest against the Modi government for its alleged “anti-people” policies. They also offered garlands on bikes and vehicles as symbolic gesture signifying the 'death' of transport due to extremely high prices of fuel.

Speaking at the protest, Working President PCC Raman Bhalla said that Congress has launched a week-long countrywide protest against inflation and rise in fuel prices. He said Petrol and diesel prices were on Thursday hiked by 80 paise a litre each, taking the total increase in rates in the last 10 days to Rs 6.40 per litre. This is the ninth increase in prices since the ending of a four-and-half-month long hiatus in rate revision on March 22.In all, petrol and diesel prices have gone up by Rs 6.40 per litre each, added Bhalla. Former Minister demanded that the rising prices of petrol and diesel be brought under control as it has been increased 9 times in the last 10 days. He said that the rising prices directly affect the poor and the middle-class people, and the government should thus control the prices and inflation, and stop increasing the rates.

Bhalla further said that as the fuel prices are on a continuous rise, Congress has decided to carry out a nationwide programme 'Mehngai Mukt Bharat Abhiyan' to take on the BJP-led central government and is set to organise rallies and marches across the country until April 7. Demanding fuel prices to be rolled back, Bhalla said, "We had predicted that as soon as elections in five states will conclude the fuel prices will be hiked. We demand that fuel prices be rolled back." He accused the government of "stealing money from the poor" and handing it over to industrialists. "We can see that petrol and diesel prices are climbing rapidly. The government is making thousands of crores from this. Congress is protesting across the country against this price rise of petrol and diesel. The government has to stop doing this. It has to ensure that prices do not rise," he added.Bhalla further said that the Centre has made record collections through excise duty since it was hiked two years back to counter a steep increase in international crude prices. However, the hike was never rolled back despite the crude prices dipping later. When the prices of petrol, diesel and gas did not increase during the elections, it can happen even now, Bhalla said, adding the government should stop this “‘attack on the pockets of the people”.

Also speaking at the protest, Former Minister Yogesh Sawhney asserted that this shameless behaviour of the government needs to end. The people are suffering because of the sharp rise in prices of Diesel, Petrol and Gas. The Congress party urges the BJP government to stop this loot at once. We demand that the government controls the fuel prices within a bracket that is affordable by the people of the country. The party is protesting across India in various cities and locations to mark our opposition to the dangerously climbing prices of fuel. Party workers will relentlessly pursue a decrease in prices through democratic mediums such as protests, dharnas and awareness programs until the government realises what must be done and actually takes the necessary actions. People need immediate relief from the burden of these sky-rocketing prices and the government has a responsibility to do that, he said.

Sawhney further heavily criticised the Centre for ignoring the genuine plight of the public created by incessant hike in fuel prices since the last few years. Fuel prices are being continuously hiked by the government day after day, now ten days in a row, and there is no sign that the government is stopping. This has been going on for years under the NDA government. The Congress party strongly demands a rollback in these prices, he said, and will continue to be on the streets until the government gives in to this demand. The inflation that we're seeing in the country today is unprecedented and irrational and it needs to stop. People are suffering so the government needs to stop stealing from poor and middle class people, he added. Rates have been increased across the country and it will have a cascading impact on the prices of other items and lead to inflationary pressure on the public. We stand up against the government to stop this from continuing any further, Sawhney said.

Along with Former Ministers Raman Bhalla and Yogesh Sawhney, Dwarka Choudhary, Satish Sharma senior Congress leaders and members including Pawan dev Singh, Atul Sharma, Chander shekhar Sharma, Baldev Singh Wazir, Sahil Shavotra, Mohibder Singh, Balbir Singh Beera, Mohinder Singh, Jaswant Singh, Harbans Lal Shrama, Harjinder Singh, Rajinder Singh Randhawa, Charan Singh, Capt. Subhash Choudhary, Khar Singh, Babu Ram Saini, Sonu Verma, K D Singh, Deepak Kumar and others participated in the protest.