Bhatti embarks on ‘cycle yarta’ against hike in petrol, diesel and LPG prices

Vikramarka said the hike in petrol, diesel and LPG cylinder prices had forced the country to go 40 years back

Kothagudem: CLP leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka embarked on a ‘cycle yarta’ from Bhadrachalam to Khammam protesting against the increase in petrol, diesel and LPG cylinder prices by the Narendra Modi government.

Prior to taking up the cycle yatra, he offered prayers at Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy Temple at Bhadrachalam in the district on Sunday. The yatra covering around 213 km will conclude on March 12 in Khammam where a meeting of party leaders has been scheduled.

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Speaking to the media, Vikramarka said the hike in petrol, diesel and LPG cylinder prices had forced the country to go 40 years back. As a result, people were compelled to take to cycling as a mode of transport. During the Congress regime in the past, even as the crude oil prices reached US $138 per barrel, the government managed to maintain the prices of petrol and diesel at Rs 55 and 44 respectively.

With the crude oil prices falling down drastically across the world the prices of petrol and diesel should be halved. But the governments imposing heavy taxes making their prices shoot up beyond the reach of the common public, the Congress leader alleged.

The increase in petrol, diesel and LPG cylinder prices also has a cascading effect making the prices of essential commodities and prices of items in restaurants to go up. And it has become a burden for the middle class and poor families, Vikramarka said.

He complained that the State and Central governments have been imposing huge taxes on petrol and diesel. The taxes on petrol and diesel was only Rs 12 per litre but now the governments have been imposing a tax of about Rs 58 per litre.

The Congress leader further alleged that the Modi government was trying to throw thousands of employees onto the roads by privatising the public sector companies that were established in the Congress rule. The Centre was also planning to privatise SCCL and Heavy Water Plant.

Bhadrachalam MLA, Podem Veeraiah, MLC, T Jeevan Reddy, former Union minister, P Balaram Naik, former MLC, P Nageswara Rao, the party Warangal-Khammam-Nalgonda Graduates MLC candidate Ramulu Naik and others were present.

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