Pics: Spoorthi Ullal/Abhijith Kolpe

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Jun 11: The district Congress unit staged a protest against the union government over the rising fuel prices with a tag line '100 not out' here at KPT petrol pump on Friday June 11.

A cake cutting ceremony was held by Congress at the protest venue.

District Congress president, Harish Kumar said, "Petrol price has hit the common man hard by touching the record breaking Rs 100 mark. A common man will end up paying Rs 25,000 a year for one litre of petrol that he fills in his car tank. On the other hand, Covid has affected people. The petrol price has been increasing on a daily basis. This protest '100 not out' will go on for the next five days in all constituencies, gram panchayats and taluk panchayats and petrol pumps."

Former MLC Ivan D'Souza said, “The government is not paying heed to the citizens’ woes. They have given their voters the gift of petrol costing Rs 100. All BJP leaders are silent on this matter. During the time of the UPA government, when petrol price was increased from Rs 60 to Rs 70, BJP leaders were seen protesting on roads. We demand the government to roll back the hike in fuel prices. The protest will continue for the next five days."

Former MLA Ramanath Rai said, "The common man is in deep trouble with the rise in fuel prices. When the UPA government was in power, it cost $140 per barrel of crude oil and even then the price of petrol did not cross Rs 70. All the citizens and opposition parties should join together and raise voice so that fuel price is brought down. The price decline will help the common people during the pandemic. If the fuel price is reduced, it will automatically reduce the price of other commodities."

Former district Youth Congress president, Mithun Rai said, "This protest is for the common public not for ‘Andh Bhakts’ who claim to vote for Modi even if petrol reaches Rs 200."

Former MLA J R Lobo, Mohiuddin Bava, Shakuntala Shetty, Congress leaders AC Vinayaraj, Sadashiv Ullal, Appi, Shabeer, Subodh Alva, Prathibha Kulai, Vivek Raj Poojary, PV Mohan, TK Sudhir and others were present.