NEW DELHI: Delhi Congress workers and activists of the party’s youth wing IYC rode horse and bullock carts on Monday to protest against the petrol and diesel prices hike in the country.Delhi Congress president Anil Kumar Chaudhary, who staged a protest at a petrol pump near Parmanand hospital in Civil Lines, was first detained alongwith party workers and later arrested, as they tried to move to Raj Niwas to hand over a memorandum to L-G Anil Baijal.
Chaudhary and his party leaders rode horse carts while heading towards Raj Niwas.A case was registered under IPC section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and National Disaster Management Act at Civil Lines police station against Chaudhary and others. The protesters, who were arrested, were later released on personal bond, said a police officer.
Diesel price on Monday scaled a new high after prices were hiked for the 22nd time in just over three weeks, taking the cumulative increase to Rs 11.14 per litre. Petrol price was increased by 5 paise per litre and diesel 13 paise a litre across the country, according to a price notification of state oil marketing companies.
In Delhi, a litre of petrol comes for Rs 80.43 per litre as compared to Rs 80.38 earlier. Diesel rates have been hiked to Rs 80.53 per litre from Rs 80.40.The Delhi Congress said police is acting in a “partisan manner” as it always takes action against the its party leaders while the BJP workers are let off when they hold demonstrations.
“People are already suffering from coronavirus and consequences of lockdown. At such a time, unprecedented rise in prices of petrol and diesel by Modi, Kejriwal government in Delhi, is adding to their woes,” Anil KumarChaudhary said.
(With PTI inputs)