CPM protests fuel price hikes

Mysuru: CPM activists Wednesday held a protest near Gandhi Square in the city against the Union govt’s decision to hike petrol, diesel and CNG prices twice in the last week.

They shouted slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of anti-people and anti-labour policies. They said the hikes came after Assembly elections ended in five states.

The protesters said the PM should stop burdening the common man by increasing fuel prices under the pretext of a West-Asia conflict. They also accused him of emotionally blackmailing people by advising austerity measures such as postponing the purchase of gold and minimising fuel use.

They criticised PM Narendra Modi over his foreign trips after advising austerity measures. They said the PM, BJP-ruled chief ministers and ministers should stop “hoodwinking” people by running electric vehicles, adding that such dramatics would not ease the burden of the common man or solve the fuel crisis.

The protesters also urged the govt to disband the National Testing Agency over its alleged mismanagement of NEET exams, which they said claimed the lives of dozens of students and disturbed over 24 lakh candidates due to alleged paper leaks.

The party district committee secretary Jagadeesh Surya, district committee members M Vijaykumar and others were present.