Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Mar 2: Dakshina Kannada District Congress Committee staged a protest, protesting against the increase in the price of fuel and other essential commodities, in front of the deputy commissioner's office here on Tuesday March 2.
The protestors carried out a rally from the clock tower to the DC’s office along with a bullock cart. A few Congress workers carried firewood and LPG gas cylinders.
Addressing the protestors, former minister B Ramanath Rai said, "If a ruler becomes a businessman, then his subjects will become beggars. Narendra Modi-led union government in the centre is an undeclared autocratic government in the country."
“When the UPA government led by Congress was in power, the excise duty for petrol was Rs 9 and Rs 3 for diesel. But, the BJP government in the centre has made excise duty Rs 33 for petrol and Rs 32 for diesel.
"It is the Congress which introduced pro-people policies and Land Reform Acts and reservation for the weaker sections of the society. The BJP leaders have no concern for the poor. Instead, it protects the interests of corporates. They will never protect the interests of the poor. They will speak about the poor only to gain votes.
“The BJP government came to power assuring the people of bringing back black money but though it is seven years after coming to power, it has failed to bring the same,” he said.
He also urged the public to elect Congress to power, which will reduce the price of fuel and other commodities. “You can fool all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time," Rai said.
Former minister and MLA U T Khader said, "People should come forward against anti-people policies of the BJP-led governments. The BJP government is here to sell India and increase the burden of tax on public. The Congress government had nationalised the banks, but the BJP government is making all efforts to privatise the same.”
Taking a dig at the BJP government the state, Khader said, “The BJP government in the state is acting as the agent of the central government.
"The fishermen are in distress as the government failed to release the subsidy amount which they rightfully deserve.
"If the government provides reservation for people belonging to upper class, it is betraying the other backward classes in the district. MP Nalin Kumar Kateel had staged protests when the UPA was in power over price hikes. Why he is silent now on the rising prices of fuel?” Khader questioned.
District Congress president Harish Kumar said, "The union government’s policies are putting common peole into trouble. Narendra Modi's government is favouring only the corporates like Ambani and Adani."
He also said that the Prime Minister is not ready to address the media, instead, keeps speaking in ‘Mann ki Baat’ programme.
KPCC spokesperson Sudhir Kumar Murolli also spoke at the protest.
Former MLAs J R Lobo, Mohiuddin Bava, Shakunthala Shetty and others were present.