Finance
By: Shree1news, 15 FEB 2021
The Congress party is observing a six-hour Odisha bandh on Monday to protest in opposition to the rising costs of petrol and diesel. Congress workers are also staging ‘rail roko’ agitation in protest.
On Monday, petrol and diesel prices stand at Rs 89.69 per litre and Rs 86.47 per litre, respectively, in Bhubaneswar.
Slamming the Centre and the Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha government for the rising fuel prices, state Congress president Niranjan Patnaik had earlier stated that the shutdown would start from 7 am and continue till 1 pm.
Vehicles will stay off the roads, shops and other business establishments will also stay shut during the period, he added.
A six-hour statewide shutdown called by the Congress
All Odisha Bus Owners Association had introduced that the passenger vehicles of their members will keep off the roads till 1 pm.
He further stated that his party is conscious that individuals will face varied inconveniences due to the bandh however there is no such thing as a alternative to protest in opposition to the government’s “habit” of hiking fuel prices and sought support from the public.
“The state government ought to reduce tax on petrol and diesel in order to give some relief to the people who are already sustaining hardship due to the pandemic,” PTI quoted the Odisha Congress president as saying.
He also alleged that both the Centre and the state government are imposing unreasonable taxes on fuel, leading to a steep hike in their prices which in turn result in a rise in the prices of other essential commodities.
Prices of essential commodities have shot up due to spiralling fuel costs
“The two governments must be held accountable. Only a sharp reduction in fuel prices will give relief to the common man,” he stated.
Niranjan Patnaik also stated the Congress will also raise the issues of the border dispute between Odisha and neighbouring states, the Mahanadi water dispute and political killings within the state.
Under the BJD government, ‘jal, jungle aur zameen’ (water, forest and land) are in danger in our state, he stated adding that in recent years, killings have become rampant.
Our mothers and sisters are not secure on the streets. We need to raise our voice. I appeal to the individuals to support the bandh, stated Patnaik.
