NCP (SP) to stage statewide protests over fuel hikes

Pune: NCP (SP) announced that it will stage a statewide protest after govt hiked fuel prices for the fourth time in 15 days .

The party’s chief Sharad Pawar met its core committee in Mumbai on Monday where, along with the upcoming MLC elections, fuel price hike, inflation and the poor returns to farmers on agricultural produce were discussed.



NCP (SP) state president Shashikant Shinde claimed that people will be burdened as fuel prices will continue to rise. “Govt thought that if it increased fuel prices in a phased manner, people would not realise its impact. However, there is already a lot of anger over failed govt policies due to which the country is facing a fuel price hike,” he added.

Govt intends to increase fuel prices by at least Rs 20 per litre, he added. “While increasing the prices, govt is also trying to muzzle the voice of the opposition by imposing restrictions on protest rallies. However, our party will continue to raise issues of public concern and we will hold statewide protests,” Shinde said.

The core committee also discussed the upcoming MLC election. “We had preliminary talks about the seats the party intends to contest against those we contested in the last election. MVA representatives will hold one more discussion on May 27 after which a final decision will be taken,” Shinde said.