Demanding withdrawal of hike in the base price of VAT on petrol as announced by the State Government on Wednesday, the activists of BJP’s women wing from the city and those of the city unit of Samajwadi Party took out separate rallies and burnt effigies of the State Government in Dehradun on Thursday. The protesters said that the hike would add to the burden of the common people who have long been smarting under the impact of the spiraling prices of essential commodities.
The women BJP activists led by Mahanagar Mahila Morcha president Kanchan Thakur assembled at its office and rallied to landswone Chowk while shouting slogans against the State Government over the issue. later, they burnt the effigy of the State Government. The BJP leader said that the State Government, neck-deep in corruption, is making the common people face the consequences of their misrule. “The hike on the base price of VAT on petrol would force the prices of essential items to sky-rocket,” she said.
Tearing further into state government, she said they are adding to the people’s burden while doing nothing to solve the problems they have been facing.
The BJP will intensify its agitation if the State Government does not withdraw the increased base price of VAT on petrol immediately. Among those present on the occasion were Sarojani Semwal, Vimla Gaur and Ravindra Katariya.
At another remove, SP activists led by SP Mahanagar president Suresh Yadav rallied to landsdowne Chowk from the party office while shouting slogans against the state government over the same matter. Yadav alleged that the state government had put tremendous burden on the people by increasing the base price of VAT on petrol. “Both the central and State Governments have failed to control price rise, landing the common people in dire straits. Now the hiked base price of VAT on petrol would bleed them white,” he said. Others present during the stir were Mukesh Jadon, Rajesh Rawat, Syed Ahmed, Jamal and Vikas joshi.