With Congress announcing to hit the roads and stage statewide protests on Wednesday against the hike in petrol and diesel prices in Uttar Pradesh, leaders of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Communist Party of India (Marxists) and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) also condemned Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s move.

On the directives of national general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the Congressmen would stage protests at all the district headquarters on Wednesday against the state government’s decision to hike VAT on fuel prices leading to its increase, UPCC president Raj Babbar said in a statement issued on Tuesday. 

“This will directly hit the lives of poor, farmers and labourers. The Congress has been continuously fighting for the interests of the deprived sections of society and we will register a strong protest over this move of the state government on Wednesday,” Babbar said.

Petrol and diesel prices in Uttar Pradesh were hiked by Rs 2.5 and Re 1 respectively from Monday midnight as the government increased Value Added Tax (VAT).

Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati also criticised the state government’s decision, terming it as a “cruel step” which would add to inflation. 

She claimed that after lawlessness and corruption, people would feel the pinch as hike in fuel prices would result in increase of prices of all essential commodities.

The UP unit of Communist Party of India (Marxists) also flayed the hike in fuel prices and asked the state government to revoke its order.

State secretary, CPIM, Heera Lal Yadav said all units of the party would register protest in the meeting on August 21. “Inflation has already broken the backbone of people and this decision will only add to their woes,” he said.

Reacting to the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, Yadav said the police had shown lackadaisical approach in initiating action against criminals.

Meanwhile, the national spokesperson of Rashtriya Lok Dal criticised the state government for hike in fuel prices. He said the decision would adversely affect the people in general and farmers in particular. 

“In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP leaders had promised to lower fuel prices while seeking support of farmers. Now, the BJP has reneged from its promise and increased the fuel prices. Farmers who are already bearing the brunt of high power tariffs will have to shell out extra bucks for fuel. The hike in fuel prices will also increase the prices of goods of daily use. Is this good governance?” Dubey said.