Sambalpur, May 17: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) activists today staged a demonstration here in protest against the steep hike in petrol prices.

Hundreds of BJD workers took out a cycle rally and converged in front of the office of the revenue divisional commissioner to voice their protest.

They also burnt effigies of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

The protesters demanded an immediate withdrawal of the petrol price hike. “The frequent price hike of petroleum products has exposed the real face of the Congress. The UPA government has hiked petrol prices eight times in the last nine months,” said Sanjay Babu, convener of Sambalpur youth unit.

“A price hike of five rupees at a time has destabilised the financial foundation of the poor people. The government should immediately roll back the price or it will have to face the wrath of the public,” said Babu.

Former president of the BJD district unit, Bijaya Kumar Mohanty, said: “The hike in the petrol prices directly affects the price of essential commodities. The poor and lower middle class will become the victim of government’s inefficiency to exercise control over the oil companies.”

Stating that there was a proposal to hike the price of diesel and cooking gas soon, Mohanty said the Centre should refrain from such “anti people” moves.