BJD to launch 3-day protests against rise in cooking gas price; Cong says its ‘drama’
By A Iswar Rao/ Sukanta Mohanty
Bhubaneswar, Nov. 21: The frontal organizations of Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal on Sunday announced to protest the ever-increasing price of cooking gas for three days across the state from Monday. Biju Yuva Janata Dal, Biju Chhatra Janata Dal and Biju Mahila Janata Dal will stage demonstrations in all blocks on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, declared party’s senior leader and MLA from Chandbali constituency, Byomakesh Ray.
Firing on all cylinders against the Union government, Byomokesh said the BJP came to power by saying it would ensure ‘Achhe Din.’ But such day never arrived. “The much-hyped ‘Ujjwala Yojana’ of the Union government has also failed. In the last three years, the cooking gas price has increased by 70 per cent, making it out of reach for the Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, who are the real beneficiaries of the Yojana. At a time when prices of essential commodities are increasing, people find it very difficult to refill their cylinders,” the lawmaker said.
He added that the protests will continue till the Central government reduces the price of cooking gas.
Taunting the BJD for its planned protest programmes, senior Congress leader Tara Prasad Bahinipati said the former shared a good relationship for decades and its present change of heart is nothing but a political drama for survival.
“After decades of mutual relationship both inside and outside state and national legislatures, the regional party is going to hold protest rallies against the Union government only for its political survival. People are not fool to understand this drama and they will punish both the BJD and BJP in the coming days,” said the Congress leader.
