Patna, Jan. 16: Different groups today burnt two effigies of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to protest the hike in petrol price.

The JD (U) youth wing burnt the first effigy at Patna City near Shahid Bhagat Singh Chowk. Later, in the evening, members of All India Youth Federation (AIYF) and All India Students’ Federation (AISF) jointly burnt the PM’s effigy at Kargil Chowk.

Demanding the resignation of the Congress-led coalition government, Pramod Kushwaha, the JD (U) youth wing president, said: “The hike is absolutely unnecessary and would add to the burden on the public. The hike is anti-people and we have announced a campaign against it throughout the country. A government that has no concern for the problems of the common man has no moral right to continue.”

He added: “Congress has completely forgotten the common man and is making life miserable. The hike would have a big effect on other commodities and raise the inflation level to an all-time high.”

They also raised anti-government slogans and announced that they will also sit on a dharna on 27th of this month. On the other hand, All Indian Youth Federation (AIYF) and All India Students’ Federation (AISF) jointly burnt Singh’s effigy at Kargil Chowk and demanded immediate rollback of petrol price.

AIYF state president Murari Shekar said: “The UPA government is making a hole in the pocket of the common man. On the one hand, Rahul Gandhi eats food at a poor man’s hut and expresses his party’s concern for them but on the other, the same party makes their lives miserable by raising the cost of fuel. This cruel blow makes a mockery of all the assurances of the government to take steps to curb price rise. The people of this country will not take such burden on them quietly.”

He added: “Rising the price of the petrol has proved that the UPA government’s claim of being pro-poor is actually a farce and only false promises are being made.”

Similarly, AISF state secretary Vishwajeet Kumar slammed the central government and staged protests at Kargil Chowk against the hike in petrol prices and demanded its immediate rollback to ease the woes of the public. “The government has picked the pockets of the public. Every common man is agitating and has hit the streets to show their dissent. Everyone is affected by the hike in petrol price, the common man is already harassed by the inflation and hike in petrol price has further added to their misery.”

He also alleged that the central government is taking money from the oil companies. “The UPA is involved in blackmarketeering of fuel. That is why the oil companies are increasing the petrol prices in an arbitrary manner. A few months ago, the price of petrol was increased and now again. The frequent hike has broken the backbone of every common man.”

Raising anti-government slogans and holding banners, the protesters marched through the streets of Kazipur, Nayatola, Langartoli and Hathua Market.