Heavy Opposition To Fuel Price Hike

As expected, the reaction by all opposition parties in the state over the hike in the prices of fuel has been swift and sure.

Activists of all the opposition parties in the state took to the streets and protested over the 'anti common man' decision of the government. The activists adopted innovative forms of protests, from cooking food on the road to riding bullock carts.

At Begumpet, Telugu Desam Party workers turned the road in front of the Chief Rationing Officer's building into a makeshift kitchen, and cooked food there. The protest was led by former Hyderabad Mayor Teegala Krishna Reddy.

TDP activists who weren't busy with the cooking continued to shout slogans against the government, even as the food was being prepared.

They condemned the centre's decision to increase prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas, and demanded a rollback with immediate effect.

Meanwhile, Praja Rajyam Party chief K Chiranjeevi tried his hands at steering a bullock cart with the steering-wheel of a lorry. He was leading a protest of his own in Vijayawada.

Chiranjeevi's bullock cart ride went on for some distance, after which he turned it into an impromptu padayatra from Tummalapally auditorium to the Sub-Collector's office.

The PRP chief demanded that the government bear the burden of increased prices by providing subsidies with the money it gains as sales tax. He reminded the government that the PRP was supporting it, but that this support was issue-based.

He told his party activists that the PRP will put pressure on state and central government to roll back the hike.