Ranchi: JMM leaders and workers protested the price hike of 5-kg free trade LPG (FTL) and commercial LPG cylinders on Thursday and threatened to further intensify their agitation in the coming days.Carrying a few empty cylinders and posters criticising the Union govt, over 200 party workers gathered at the Subhas Chandra Bose Park in Ranchi’s Kutchery area and raised slogans against the BJP-led gov.JMM’s Ranchi unit convener Mushtaq Alam said, “Like demonitisation, people in the country are again forced to stand in queues, but this time for cylinders. Hotels are incurring heavy financial losses due to rise in price of commercial cylinders coupled with short supply. We demand rollback of price hikes.”Owing to the tensions in West Asia since last month, fuel supplies suffered hit across the country. Though the situation has moderately improved compared to few weeks back, many still rue of getting delayed cylinders. Alam said, “The Union govt’s policy paralysis has forced people to go hungry as still many are finding it hard to get cylinders.”Opposition BJP hit back at JMM’s protest calling it as a political drama. BJP state president Aditya Sahu said, “JMM’s agitation is nothing but a failed attempt to hide its party’s failures on every issue and divert attention from the burning issues prevailing in the state. Amid the global turmoil, when the entire world was worried, the Union govt reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 10 per litre, providing major relief to the citizens of the country.”He further said, “If JMM is so concerned about the welfare of common people, it should reduce VAT on petrol and diesel? In Jharkhand, industries are on the verge of closure due to a hike in electricity tariffs by state. Common people are troubled by expensive electricity bills.”
