CPI(M) activists protest fuel price hike in Delhi

The activists led by CPI(M) central committee members Tapan Sen, Tapas Sinha and Hannan Mollah blocked the traffic near Scindia House in Connaught Place and burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.     
Holding placards "Halt Inflation" and "Withdraw hike in petroleum prices and LPG", the protesters raised slogans against the government for not looking into alternate measures suggested by Left Front to avoid petrol price hike.      The protesters then proceeded towards Parliament Street, where they courted arrested.     

Addressing the demonstrators, Sen demanded that the government should further reduce various taxes on petroleum products to counter global hike in crude oil prices and sought to impose taxes on corporate houses to neutralise price rise.     

"The protest is for the countrymen, who are already hit hard by the rise in prices of essential commodities," he said, adding "we expect the Central government would consider our demands and withdraw hike in petroleum prices."     

Reacting to a query if Left parties would withdraw support to UPA government, the CPM leader said, "it is too early to comment on withdrawing support to UPA, but, this agitation would culminate into a country-wide general strike on August 20, to compel the government to consider our demands".     

In adjoining Ghaziabad, around 200 CPI(M) supporters blocked the Link Road for about an hour to register their protest against yesterday's government decision to hike prices of petroleum products.