Govt imposing 'economic emergency': BJP, seeks roll-back

Holding protests across the country against fuel price hike and seeking its immediate roll-back, BJP today accused the government of being "insensitive to the sufferings of the common man" and imposing "economic Emergency" on the country.

Lashing out at the Congress-led UPA government, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj said "Congress came to power on the slogan 'Congress ka haath aam adami ke saath' but has become totally insensitive to the sufferings of the common man".

She said the "the victims of fuel price hike are housewives, farmers and the poorest of the poor".

BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Khan said "the step exposed the Congress face that reminded people of the days of Emergency. It would not be an exaggeration if we say it was like imposing economic Emergency on the nation".

"As if the wounds inflicted by the government through continued price rise were not enough, the latest round of fuel price hike was like rubbing salt in the wounds of the common people. And by terming it as 'nominal' was like adding further salt in the wounds", he said.

The BJP leader said "the poor was turning poorer and the sufferings of the common man were increasing but the government was not bothered", while questioning further "if it was Manmohan Singh's government or Manmohan Singh's company".