Ruling BJD observes five hours Hartal across Odisha to protest hike in prices of petrol and diesel
18 September,Bhubaneswar
Normal life across Odisha affected as the ruling Biju Janata Dal ( BJD) observed a five hour hartal from 0700 hrs to 1200 hours to protest against the hike in prices of petrol and Diesel.
BJD Rajya Sabha member Prasanna Acharaya described the agitation as ” Haq pain hartal ( Protest for Rights) to lodge a strong protest on the rising prices of the petroleum products which had hit the common people of the country.
Carrying party flags the BJD supporters led by MLAs and senior leaders today resorted toroad blockades and burnt tyres at all the busy square of the state capital and other places in the state .The party however announced that the emergency services have been excluded from the hartal.
The state government apprehending trouble had announced the closure of all educational institutions across the state .
The BJD demonstrators with banners and posters also squatted on the railway tracks atvarious stations in the state affecting the movement of trains .
The vehicular traffic also came to a grinding halt as the hartal was observed in all the blocks and Districtsfrom 7 am to 12 pm.Business establishments were also closed due to the hartal.
The BJD activists staged protestdemonstration before the central government offices.The ruling party claimed that the fuel prices in India are highest in comparison to other among the South Asian countries and flayed the Narendra Modi government to allow the prices of petroland diesel to rise despite the falling of crude oil prices in the internationalmarket.
The BJP on the other hand described the hartal as an attempt to divert the attention of the people on its failure in all fronts.
The BJD is desperate to shift the focus by organizing such hartal across the state, BJP MLA Pradeep Purohit said.
The agitation against the rising prices of petrol and diesel will continue till the centre reduce the prices, the BJD leaders said and claimed that the general public has extended their full support to the five hour hartal.