YSRCP holds statewide protests over fuel price hike

Vijayawada: YSRCP on Monday staged statewide protests against the recent hike in petrol and diesel prices, accusing the coalition govt of burdening the public despite pre-election promises of reducing fuel taxes.

Responding to the call given by party president and former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, YSRCP leaders and cadre organised rallies, dharnas, padayatras and symbolic demonstrations across the state. Memorandums demanding immediate rollback of fuel prices were submitted to district collectors, revenue divisional officers, and tahsildars.

Party leaders alleged that the increase in fuel prices has severely impacted farmers, middle-class families, transport workers, and daily wage earners while also pushing up prices of essential commodities. In Vijayawada West, former minister Velampalli Srinivasa Rao pulled an autorickshaw with ropes near the Vidyadharapuram tahsildar office. In Vijayawada East constituency, NTR district YSRCP president Devineni Avinash led a rally in which motorcycles were placed on bullock carts to depict the financial burden on common people. Former minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy and MLC Chandrasekhar Reddy organised a rickshaw rally in Nellore, while former MLA Koramutla Srinivasulu tied autos to buffaloes as part of the protest in Railway Koduru.