Bhubaneswar: Members of the BJD's youth and students' wing on Thursday hit the streets to protest against the rise in fuel prices.

The group staged a demonstration at Master Canteen Square with leaders criticising the Union government and alleged that fuel prices in India were among the highest in south Asia despite neighbouring countries depending on the same source for crude oil.

The protesters used bullock carts on Lower PMG to give vent to their anger on the regular price hike. The agitators also demanded the resignation of Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan citing his inability to check fuel prices. BJD legislator Sanjay Das Burma said the price of essential commodities skyrocketed as a result of the increase in oil prices. "Fuel prices have been revised nine times since the NDA came in to power in 2014. It has affected the common man on the street," he said.

Oil Marketing Companies on Tuesday hiked petrol and diesel prices under its daily price revision mechanism. The revision saw diesel prices soar to a record high while petrol prices is at a three-year peak. The cost of petrol is Rs 70.34 a litre while a litre of diesel costs Rs. 66.69 in the state capital.

Attacking the Centre, Biju Yuva Janata Dal president Amaresh Patri said: "If the BJP-led government does not initiate steps to prevent increase in fuel prices, we will intensify our agitation."

The BJP, however, described the protest as a political gimmick and alleged that the ruling party was trying to divert the attention of people from its failures in dealing with the real issues plaguing the state.

"States such as Gujarat, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh have cut value added tax (VAT) on furl prices, but the Odisha government has been rejecting VAT reduction. If the ruling party is so concerned, then it should reduce the VAT to ease the burden on consumers," said BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan.