Mounting an attack on the central government, the Congress party has called for a nationwide bandh today, September 10, against the rising fuel prices. Petrol and diesel prices increased by 23 and 22 paise per litre respectively in Delhi, while Mumbai is reeling under the spiralling prices with petrol and diesel are being sold at Rs 88.12 and Rs 77.32 per litre.
ALSO READ: Ahead of ‘Bharat Bandh’, petrol price touches Rs 80.50/litre in Delhi
The bandh has received support from twenty other political parties, including the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Samajwadi Party (SP).
Odisha: Congress workers blocked a train at Sambalpur while protesting along with other opposition parties on Monday morning. Meanwhile, bus services of North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NEKRTC) are not operational on Monday due to the ‘Bharat Bandh’.
Telangana: Congress workers are holding protests in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district’s Bhongir and Musheerabad bus depot in Hyderabad, against the fuel price hike.
Telangana: Congress workers hold protests in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district’s Bhongir (pic 1) and Musheerabad bus depot (pic 2) in Hyderabad, against fuel price hike #BharatBandh pic.twitter.com/cVoIXXJbNr
— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2018
Mumbai: Police served a notice to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena party (MNS) under section 149, which states that in case of any law and order situation in Mumbai, the party will be held responsible for the same.
#BharatBandh: Extra deployment of forces has been done across the city today. Firm action will be taken on any miscreants taking the law into their hands, tweets Commissioner Of Police, Pune City, Dr Venkatesham K. (File pic) #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/DCzAUxCofG
— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2018
Karnataka: State government, meanwhile, declared a public holiday for today for schools and colleges in Bengaluru as a precautionary.
ALSO READ:Bharat Bandh on Monday: All you need to know
Fuel prices have been witnessing a hike in several states across the country over the past few weeks, burning a hole in the pocket of common man. The Indian rupee is also facing a decline in its value against the US dollar.
CPI and CPM workers in Andhra Pradesh’s Vijayawada hold protest against fuel price hike. #BharathBandh pic.twitter.com/MbElm9sdmU
— ANI (@ANI) September 10, 2018
Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan earlier blamed international factors for the hike in fuel price and said that one major reason for the rise in petrol and diesel prices is the depreciation of the Indian rupee against the US dollar.