Congress leaders and workers on Tuesday staged a three-hour demonstration, including a gherao, at the Indian Oil state headquarters at Shri Ram Mandir Chowk on VIP Road in Raipur. The protest was against recent increases in fuel and cooking gas prices and alleged shortages at petrol pumps and gas agencies.
Key Demands and Allegations
Protesters said domestic LPG prices had risen by about Rs 90 over the past two months, while availability of cooking gas, petrol and diesel had become erratic. They also objected to what they described as the central government’s decision to limit Ujjwala Yojana beneficiaries to four cylinders a year instead of nine, calling it an additional burden on poor households.
Comparison with UPA Era
City district Congress president Shrikumar Shankar Menon contrasted current prices with those during the UPA period. He claimed that when Brent crude was around $140 a barrel under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, LPG cost Rs 410, diesel Rs 62 and petrol Rs 65. Menon argued that UPA policies helped India withstand the global recession.
Criticism of BJP Leaders
Menon and former mayor Pramod Dubey criticised BJP leaders, including Smriti Irani and Rajnath Singh, for what they called silence on rising prices. Former MLAs Vikas Upadhyay and Kuldeep Juneja accused the Centre and state governments of fueling inflation and making false promises before elections.
Memorandum and Future Actions
Protesters submitted a memorandum to Indian Oil and district administration officials, demanding steps to curb inflation, increase subsidies on petrol, diesel and LPG, ensure 12 cylinders annually for Ujjwala beneficiaries, and address supply shortages. They warned of possible gheraos of MPs’ and MLAs’ residences if demands are ignored.
The demonstration highlights growing public discontent over rising fuel and gas prices, with political parties leveraging the issue ahead of elections.
