The Congress party, which shares power with Shiv Sena and Congress in Maharashtra, will launch a statewide protest from March 31 against the burgeoning prices of petrol, diesel, gas and other essential commodities in the country. State Congress chief Nana Patole said the protest is meant for making Bharat free of inflation.
Patole lashed out at the BJP led government at the centre for the rise in fuel prices and cooking gas, especially after the assembly elections in five states were completed. ''The rise in prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas was done when the electoral process in five states was underway. However, prices started surging after the elections were completed. In the last five days, the prices of auto fuel rose by Rs 3.20 and Rs 50 for cooking gas. There has been a similar rise in CNG and PNG and edible oil. On top of that, the prices of medicines will rise from April 1 putting an additional burden on the common man. Against this backdrop, Congress will stage statewide protests from March 31,'' he said.
Patole said the Congress workers on March 31 from 11 am will stage agitation while from April 2 to 4 they will organise sit-in protests at the district headquarters and take out morchas. On April 7, the sit in dharna is being organised in Mumbai.
He said the Congress party has extended support to the call given on March 28 and 29 by various trade unions to protest against the economic policies of the BJP led government.
