THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as Chief Minister Oommen Chandy promised steps to reduce the burden caused by the hike in prices of diesel, LPG and kerosene, various Left organisations and the BJP took to the streets here on Saturday protesting the hike.Traffic was disrupted for hours along the MG road as protesters marched towards the Secretariat and Central Government offices in the state.AIYF activists attacked the BSNL office at Statue destroying glass panes and flower pots. The DYFI staged a sit-in on the MG Road in front of the Secretariat. BJP activists, who marched towards the General Post Office at Pulimoodu, were stopped by the police from entering the compound. Various womens’ organisations too carried out demonstrations demanding withdrawal of price hike. The Kerala Mahila Sangham protested by offering a pongala before the A-G’s Office. The Janathipathya Mahila Association said in a press note that all its units will carry out widespread protest demonstrations all over the state in the coming days. SUCI(C) activists carried out a protest demonstration in the city and burned in effigies of the UPA Government. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that a consumer state such as Kerala will be the worst affected due to the hike. “The State Government will decide on the steps to reduce the burden of the people,” he said.Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan said that the Central Government has shown no mercy towards the people by increasing the kerosene, cooking gas and diesel prices so soon after the hike in petrol prices.“The Central Government’s decision is in the interest of corporate giants such as the Reliance. The State Government should take steps to waive tax proportionate to the price hiked,” he said.CPI state secretary C K Chandrappan said the hike cannot be justified, particularly as international crude oil prices were down. “The hike would trigger a rise in prices of essential commodities. The food price index is already showing a rise of 10 per cent,” he said.
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