Asks people to beat drums against hike in fuel price after State polls; 3-phase stir from Mar 31

The Congress has come up with an innovative way to highlight the issue of price rise by involving the common man in a countrywide protest. 

 The Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said on Saturday that party workers and the common people would protest outside their homes and at public places on March 31 with the beating of drums and bells and the garlanding of gas cylinders.

 "On March 31 at 11 AM the people will protest outside their homes and public places by garlanding gas cylinders and beating  drums, bells and other instruments to draw the attention of the 'deaf' BJP Government towards the insurmountable increase in prices of gas, petrol, and diesel," Surjewala said.

  Attacking the Narendra Modi Government over the fuel price hike soon after the Assembly elections got over, the Congress on Saturday announced a three-phased campaign against price escalation in the country. The party named the countrywide campaign as 'Mehngai Mukt Bharat Abhiyan' from March 31 to April 7. 

 The decision was taken at the meeting of State Congress chiefs, General Secretaries, in-charges of States including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra which was chaired by Organisation General Secretary KC Venugopal.

 The meeting, convened in the backdrop of the failures of the party in the Assembly polls, also discussed the membership drive of the party besides the current political situation in the country. It was decided to reach out to leaders like those from the Rs Group of 23' who have been critical of the party's leadership during the last couple of years.  The party will organise a 'Mehngai Mukt Bharat' dharna and march at the district level from April 2-4. On April 7, protest marches will be held at State headquarters.

 Pointing out that the fuel prices were hiked again on Saturday -the fourth increase in five days - Surjewala said the last one week has been a nightmare for the budget of every household.

"The daily increases in prices have proved the dictum for the Narendra Modi Government - 'fleece the people, fill coffers'," he said.

 Petrol and diesel prices were hiked by 80 paise a litre on Saturday as oil firms recoup losses from holding rates during the period prior to the recently-concluded Assembly elections.