Puspendra Singh Deo, Naveen Patnaik and Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak. Telegraph pictures

Bhubaneswar, June 25: All political parties other than the Congress today took to the streets in protest against the UPA government’s decision to hike the fuel price last night.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik condemned the Centre’s decision describing it as “anti-people and anti-poor”.

“This is going to have a tremendous effect on the people, particularly the lower middle class and the poor. Of course, the poorest of the poor will be affected the most,” said Naveen.

The fuel price hike would lead to further rise in the prices of essential commodities, he said.

The frontal organisations of Naveen’s Biju Janata Dal today hit the streets to protest the UPA government’s move. They burnt effigies of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Carrying LPG cylinders on their head, activists of women, youth and student wings took out a rally from Sishu Bhavan Square, located close to the chief minister’s official residence. Demanding an immediate rollback of the fuel price hike, BJD youth wing chief Sanjay Dasburma said: “The UPA government has added to the financial burden of the common man and the poor while favouring the oil companies. The people will not tolerate such a betrayal.”

He threatened to launch a state-wide agitation if the decision was not withdrawn immediately.

Condemning the fuel price hike, BJP state unit president and former Union minister Jual Oram said: “This is betrayal of the ‘aam aadmi’ by Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. BJP will continue to protest against such anti-poor and anti-people decisions throughout the state.”

The party activists staged a protest demonstration in the capital today.

More than 50 CPM activists were arrested while staging a protest demonstration in front of the Reserve Bank of India branch. SUCI activists also held a separate protest rally near the busy Master Canteen Square.