Ranchi: Congress functionaries descended onto the streets in Ranchi on Saturday to oppose the Centre’s move to hike prices of petrol and diesel amid the ongoing West Asia crisis. Party workers, legislators and ministers took to sloganeering and criticised PM Narendra Modi and his govt for putting the people under economic stress.In Ranchi, protests were held at Albert Ekka Chowk. Congress workers protested holding placards an criticised the Union govt’s economic policies. Notably, JMM had staged protests over fuel price hike on Friday after the Centre announced a hike of Rs 3 per litre in prices of petrol and diesel.State Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh said, “Instead of providing relief from all round growing inflation to the public, the PM is urging the people to make sacrifices. On the other hand, he is happily touring the globe, mocking the public.”Kamlesh further said, “This crisis didn’t emerge overnight, but during this time, the PM was busy in election campaigning. Now after polls got over in five states, he suddenly realised there is a crisis and forcing public economic and emotional stress.”BJP termed the protests a political stunt. “There is a global crisis due to the war in West Asia and India has so far managed to deal with the crisis rationally due Central govt’s astute planning. However, with rising crude oil prices, hike was imminent now. Rather than doing politics, state govt must give relief from its own coffers to people on fuel prices,” said BJP state president Aditya Sahu.
