Bhubaneswar: The BJD on Monday launched a protest rally with motorcycles mounted on bullock carts to express their resentment over the steep rise in prices of petroleum products.

They also pulled a car on the streets to imply that the people did not have to money to fill the fuel tanks of their cars.

With this, the party kicked off its three-day state-wide protest against the Centre's failure to contain the price petroleum products.

The BJD's protest will continue till May 30.

The party's general secretary Sanjay Das Burma said: "We will intensify our agitation against the anti-people policies of the BJP-led NDA government."

As the BJD protested, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday interacted with the tribal beneficiaries of Ujjwala Yojana in Mayurbhanj district through video conferencing.

Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik said: "While the BJD is doing political drama, the BJP is busy in exploiting the common people."

On Monday, petrol sold for Rs 77.07 a litre in Bhubaneswar and diesel at Rs 74.15 a litre.

Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan said: "Tax issues are also there. For a long-term solution, the government of India is planning a holistic strategy. We are sensitive to the problems. Let us see how things unfold."