Agartala, Sep 14 (IANS) The Left Front government in Tripura Friday demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Rs.5 hike in diesel prices and the cap on subsidised cooking gas cylinders.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), the dominant partner of the ruling Left Front, Friday organised demonstrations in the state capital to press for its demands.
"Protest rallies and demonstrations would continue Saturday and subsequent days across Tripura to force the central government to withdraw its Thursday's decision on petroleum products," CPI-M spokesman Gautam Das said.
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Manik Dey said: "With the increase of the price of diesel, the cost of all kind of transports including railways and water vessels will increase, putting a pressure on the common man."
The minister said that since 1999, diesel prices have increased 60 times while petrol prices rose 68 times.
"The government is collecting 48 percent tax from diesel. By giving tax exemptions, diesel price could be much lesser," the minister added.
Dey, who is also a trade union leader, also demanded the withdrawal of the decision to limit subsidised cooking gas cylinders to just six cylinders in a year for each household.
"With frequent decisions on petroleum products by the central government, a danger to the common man is awaiting in the near future. State-owned oil sector companies are making profits while the central government claims that they are losing money," he added.
The price hikes on diesel and cooking gas cylinders were announced by the central government Thursday.
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