Odisha: BJD to stage demo against LPG price hike near Raj Bhawan

Bhubaneswar: The women’s wing of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today announced to stage a demonstration near Raj Bhawan in Odisha capital on Friday protesting the Centre’s decision to hike the price of cooking gas (LPG).

Slamming the NDA-led Central government in a press meet at the BJD party office here, Biju Mahila Janata Dal (BMJD) President Pramila Mallick said, “We will stage protest near Raj Bhavan tomorrow against the price hike of LPG by the Centre.”

“We demand immediate roll back of the Centre’s decision on LPG price hike, otherwise we would intensify our agitation across the State”, the BJD leader threatened.

She also informed that her party will stage protest in front of three Revenue Divisional Commissioner’s office across the State on November 6 in this regard.

Sulochana Das, another BJD leader who was present at the press meet, said women activists of the regional party will stage dharna in all 314 blocks in the State if the Centre doesn’t reduce the price.

Notably, the Centre has increased the price of non-subsidised LPG by Rs 93 to Rs 742 per bottle and and 4 rupees 50 paise per cylinder respectively from Wednesday.

This is the 19th increase in rates since July 2016 when the government decided to eliminate subsidy on it by raising prices every month.

Meanwhile, State unit of BJP reacted to BJD’s agitation plan by saying the increase or decrease LPG price depends upon international crude price.

“Increase or decrease of LPG price is being done in a very transparent way and it’s for every state in the country,” State BJP Vice President Sameer Mohanty justified.