Anger over hike sparks protests

While they singled out Prime Minister Manmohan Singh “failing to check fuel price rise despite being an economist”,political parties,especially the BJP and the MNS,planned to hit the streets on Thursday.

Immediately after the announcement,petrol pumps in the city and Pimpri-Chinchwad witnessed a rush of vehicles,jamming roads. Some pumps in the city and even Pimpri-Chinchwad downed shutters,leading to extra rush at the open ones.

“A few pumps closed as it would help them make more by selling present stock at new rates tomorrow. This is illegal. The government should take action,” said Manav Kamble,convenor of Nagrik Haqq Suraksha Samiti.

“I went to buy petrol half-an-hour after TV channels reported the hike. At least four pumps had boards saying they were out of stock. Some consumers requested vendors to sell even at the increased price but they didn’t,” said Rajesh Patil of Pimpri.

When contacted,district collector Vikas Deshmukh said he has directed oil companies to act against pumps that downed shutters. “They have no reason to close down. They should have sold at the old rate. The new rates are applicable tomorrow. I have directed oil companies to take action,” he said.

Ali Daruwala,spokesperson of Pune Petrol Pumps Dealer’s Association,said Pune consumers will have to shell out “close to” Rs 8 extra per litre from Thursday. In Pune city,the price would be Rs 78.97,from Rs 70.96 per litre. In Pimpri-Chinchwad,it will be 16 paise more at Rs 79.13 per litre.

“Prices of petrol,diesel and cooking gas have been increasing throughout last year. I fail to understand why the government imposed such a steep hike. Eight rupees is too steep. I am helpless. I can’t do without my bike and have to buy at whatever the cost,” said Suhas Indurikar of Kondhwa who works with a firm on Bhandarkar Road. Sana Basheer,a law student who stays at Shivajinagar,said,“I think I will take a bus instead of riding my two-wheeler to college. The hike is too much.”

Nitin Pawar of the Rickshaw Panchayat said they will demand a rollback. “Almost 50 per cent of auto-rickshaws in the city run on petrol. If there is no rollback,we will meet on Saturday to decide on the course of action like getting auto fares revised,” said Pawar.

PMPML joint managing director Satish Kulkarni said bus fares won’t be affected,“Most buses run on diesel and CNG. The price hike cannot be linked to a fare hike.”

Demanding the resignation of the PM,BJP city unit president Vikas Mathkari said,“The government is neck-deep in corruption. Despite the PM being an economist,our economy has been ailing for long. We will protest on Thursday.” Ajay Shinde of the MNS said they have planned a protest on Thursday.