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Fuel Price Hike: Ahead of Congress protest, Shiv Sena mocks Modi's 'achhe din' promise

News Nation Bureau New Delhi Updated on: 09 Sep 2018, 12:36 PM

With the relentless rise in prices of petrol and diesel since mid-August across India, the opposition parties under the leadership of Congress announced a nationwide strike on September 10. A day ahead of the strike, the Shiv Sena, the 25-year-old ally of the BJP put up posters across Mumbai to stage agitation against the continuous surge in fuel price.

The posters, which showcase the rising prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas across Mumbai, launched a fierce attack on the slogan "Good days are coming" (Achhe Din Arahe Hai), coined by PM Narendra Modi.

The Congress, which reached out to all other parties and civil society groups to consolidate supports in their nationwide strike, touted the September 10 'Bharat Bandh' as the protest of the 'common man'.

The opposition parties, which will take part in the protest against fuel price surge are - Left parties, the Samajwadi Party, the Nationalist Congress Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and others. However, the Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) though extended their support on the matter will not give a shutdown call since they are in power in West Bengal.

The Congress will also hold around 92 Press Conferences across the country to hit out at the Modi government over the prices of petrol and diesel.

Read | Petrol, diesel prices on fire; Check September 9 rates across metros

Earlier, taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress also asked whether the petrol prices would touch the unprecedented century mark under the BJP-led NDA government.

"Never has the rupee touched such low levels in the history of the country. The country wants to ask him why is he silent? Is the rupee in hospital today?" Congress spokesperson RPN Singh mocked.

Accusing the Modi-government of failure on all fronts, including "economy, employment, the welfare of the youth and agriculture, Singh further said, petrol has touched the Rs 80 mark in Delhi and has breached the Rs 90 mark at places like Bhiwandi.

Congress leaders Ashok Gehlot, Ahmed Patel, Motilal Vora, Mallikarjun Kharge and Randeep Singh Surjewala also raised their voice against the sufferings of the common man, who was bearing the brunt of escalating prices of petrol, diesel and LPG as well as of other essential commodities.

On Sunday, petrol is being sold at Rs 80.50 per litre while a litre of diesel now comes at Rs 72.61 per litre in Delhi. Talking about Mumbai, petrol is retailing at a whopping amount of Rs 87.89 per litre with diesel costs Rs 77.09 per litre on September 9, 2018.

Read | Fuel Price Hike: RJD, JD-S, Left extend support to Congress’ ‘Bharat Bandh’

Though the spike in petrol and diesel prices has renewed calls for a cut in excise duty Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has remained non-committal till the time.

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First Published : 09 Sep 2018, 09:26 AM

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