MARGAO
Congress leaders and workers hit the streets on Friday to protest the rising prices of fuel, with Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat demanding immediate roll back of fuel prices and save the common man from inflation.
While Kamat led the party workers in protest at Virginkar pump, the Youth Congress held another demonstration near Kurade petrol pump. South Goa district Committee led by Joe Dias held a demonstration at Mohiddin petrol pump.
Congress leaders from Cuncolim including party vice-president Altinho Gomes, Yuri Alemao and block president Assiz Norohna protested at Cuncolim. They offered free petrol for motorcycles and auto rickshaws.
Briefing the media at Margao, the Opposition leader said the BJP government had come to power in 2012 promising to cap the petrol prices at Rs 60 per litre. “They promised “Acche Din” to the people of the country after coming to power at the centre in 2014. Unfortunately, both the State as well as the Centre has not kept its promise. The consistent fuel price hike despite the international oil prices coming down is clear indication of loot of people’s hard earned money by the BJP governments”, he charged.
Kamat said it is unfortunate that the BJP government is continuously putting additional burden on the people by increasing fuel prices when people are passing through bad times due to the Covid pandemic.
“Government is not ready to give financial package to the marginalised sector which has suffered the most due to nationwide lockdown and curfews imposed to control Covid pandemic. It is sad that the BJP government is putting additional burden on motorcycle pilots, khajekar, chanekar, fulkar, mechanics, render, poder and others, he said.
The opposition leader also protested in Margao with South Goa District Congress Committee at Mohiddin Petrol Pump, Goa Pradesh Youth Congress Committee at Kurade Petrol Pump and Margao Block Congress Committee at Virginkar Petrol Pump.
Former Minister Alex Sequeira, South Goa District Congress President Joe Dias, GPCC Secretary Nitin Prabhudessai, SGDCC Members Deepak Kharangate, Avita Naik, Royla Fernandes, Goa Youth Congress General Secretary Archit Naik and Deepak Pai, South Goa District Youth Congress President Ubed Khan, Margao Block Congress President Gopal Naik, were also present at the protests.
IN THE CAPITAL CITY
GPCC boss rides bullock cart
PANAJI: Goa state Congress president Girish Chodankar rode a bullock cart to a petrol pump near Panaji as a symbolic protest against the rising costs of petrol in Goa.
The Congress leaders alleged that the BJP government is against the common man and hike in petrol prices is burdening the common man.
"The ruling BJP is against the common man. The ever-rising cost of petrol is an example of that. People will have to resort to riding bullock carts because petrol is so expensive," Girish Chodankar said.
He said the BJP government has made life miserable for people by affecting massive inflation.
AT CANACONA
Govt slammed for 22 hikes
in fuel prices since May 4
CANACONA: As part of nationwide protest, the Canacona Block Congress committee staged a protest over the fuel price hike at the Gulem Petrol Pump in Canacona on Friday.
Claiming that the fuel price has been hiked 22 times since May 4, Canacona Block Congress President Pralay Bhagat accused the BIP government of being the most ineffective government since independence.
Following a price rise of 22 paise for petrol and diesel, petrol was sold at Rs 93.65 per litre and diesel at Rs 91.5 per litre at the Gulem Petrol Pump on Friday.
GPCC Secretary Mahadev Dessai said the Narendra Modi government had become insensitive to public suffering and have been increasing fuel prices almost on a daily basis.
Others who took part in the protest included Mithil Chari, Rupesh Painguinkar, Rajendra Velip, Ulhas Gaonkar, Satish Velip, Cleston Fernandes, Tolu Velip and Manoj Desai.
