People protest against the diesel price hike in Bhubaneswar on Friday. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubanswar, Sept. 14: Political parties as well as common people today hit the streets to protest against the steep hike in diesel prices and a cap on the number of subsidised cooking gas cylinders for each household.

The diesel prices went up by Rs 5.96 a litre in the city yesterday. The Centre also announced that only six cylinders each year would be allowed at subsidised rates.

Although, the diesel price hike announced was Rs 5 a litre in Bhubaneswar, it went up by another 96 paisa because of one per cent entry tax and 18 per cent VAT imposed by the state government. To add to people’s woes, bus fares are being increased from today.

Demanding an immediate rollback of the steep hike in diesel price, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said that people, especially the poor, would be affected because of it.

“It shows the breakdown of the economic policies of the government of India. The prices of essential commodities, including the price of food and transport cost, will go up,” he said.

The BJD today organised a protest rally and burnt effigies of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The BJP and the Left parties, too, organised similar protests.

“Our fight against the central government’s anti-poor policies will be further intensified. We will take our agitation to the district level,” said BJD youth wing president Sanjay Dasburma.

The rise in fuel price has provided fresh ammunition to the BJD against the Congress-led Centre, which is now targeting the state on the recommendation of the coal block to the private companies.

The state unit of BJP today also held a protest rally against the Centre’s decision to hike the fuel price at Sriya Square. Criticising the Centre’s decision, senior BJP leader Bijay Mohapatra demanded an immediate rollback of the steep hike in fuel prices.

Homemakers in the city seemed rattled by government’s six-cylinder a year policy. “How can I cook for a big family like mine with a single cylinder for two months? I have to buy the cylinder in the black market,” said Mitali Pradhan, a school teacher.

While private bus operators have demanded diesel at subsidised rates, autorickshaw drivers too threatened to raise fares shortly.

Private Bus Owners’ Association general secretary Barada Acharya said: “The bus owners cannot afford diesel at this price nor do we want to burden the people. Hence, the government should provide fuel to the bus operators at a subsidised rate.”

The auto operators have also threatened to hike the fare. “I have to spend Rs 1,500 more per month to ply my auto. If I don’t demand more money from the passengers to ease my burden, I can’t run my auto,” said Pratap Das, 35, an auto operator.

On the other hand, the Pradesh Congress demanded that the state should cut down sales tax on petroleum products. Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik said: “The fuel price is guided by the market. It will certainly hit the common man. To provide relief to the people, the state should slash the tax on diesel.”