Narayanguda police on Wednesday stopped a bicycle rally held by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists who were protesting against the increase in the prices of petroleum products, and arrested the protesters except BJP State Unit President G Kishen Reddy, who was leading them.
Kishen Reddy was not arrested since he had to attend a Public Accounts Committee meeting scheduled to be held at the Assembly later in the evening.
Kishen Reddy had led his party activists, mounted on bicycles, on a protest to highlight the fact that the cost of petroleum fuel had just slipped beyond the grasp of the common man after it was increased by about Rs. 3 per litre.
The BJP bicycle protest that started from the party office at Barkatpura was to end at the State Assembly, but the protesters were stopped when they reached Narayanguda.
The police said that the reason behind the protest being stopped was that the party activists were obstructing the flow of traffic.
Speaking to the media persons present at Narayanguda, Kishen Reddy pointed out that the centre had increased prices of petroleum 19 times since the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government assumed charge 6 years ago.
The BJP state chief demanded that the state government reduce tax on petroleum products so that the hike in the prices due to increased international rates could be offset, and the burden on the common man would be eased.
Kishen Reddy pointed out that no other state in the country was levying a 33% tax on petrol.
The BJP leader also demanded that the government immediately revoke the price hike, and warned that his party would intensify its agitation across the state if their demands were not met.