New Delhi, Jan 18 (IANS) About 500 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers Tuesday held a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in central Delhi to protest the recent hike in petrol prices. Police had to use water cannons to disperse the crowd.
‘The protest began around 11 a.m. and is still on. Around 500 people have gathered at the site, including leaders like Vijender Gupta,’ a police officer said.
The protesters came on bullock carts, cycles and cycle rickshaws.
‘The prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed in the last few months and it has become difficult for the common man to survive,’ a BJP leader said.
He claimed that several protesters were injured by the water cannon.
The BJP is the main opposition party and has been protesting price rise since the last few months.
From Jan 16, the three state oil marketing companies – Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum – raised their petrol price by Rs.2.50-Rs.2.54 per litre.
In retail outlets of Indian Oil in Delhi, a litre of petrol costs Rs.58.37. It is slightly more expensive at Rs.58.39 a litre in retail outlets of Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum.
