BJD hartal against fuel price rise halts life in state

Bhubaneswar: Normal life was crippled in most parts of the state following the 5-hour hartal observed by the ruling BJD at all district headquarters and blocks on Monday to protest against fuel price hike.

Vehicular movement was disrupted at several important locations of the state capital, including Master Canteen, Kalpana, AG and NALCO Squares, where the protestors picketed and blocked roads by burning tyres.

“The international fuel commodity prices have remained stable for the last few months, but that hasn’t been the case in India. Hence, we demand immediate roll back of the Centre’s decision to increase the prices of petrol and diesel,” said senior party leader Surya Narayan Patro, who staged a sit-in protest along with other party leaders near Accountant General Office here.

Similar protests and demonstrations were organised in Puri, where the party workers blocked roads at different places and detained trains at the railway station.

In Cuttack, the agitators led by Choudwar MLA Pravat Biswal staged demonstrations at various places at Choudwar and nearby areas.

However, emergency services were exempted from the purview of the hartal.