Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, March 10: The Udupi District Congress staged a protest condemning the recent hike in the prices of domestic and commercial LPG cylinders by the central government.

Congress leaders and members took out a protest march from the Udupi District Congress office to Brahmagiri Circle, where they held a demonstration. During the protest, Mahila Congress members lit a firewood stove on the road and prepared tea, which was distributed to the public as a symbolic gesture.

Congress leaders alleged that the BJP had earlier staged strong protests even over minor increases in gas prices when it was in the opposition. However, they claimed that the current central government has increased the price of domestic LPG cylinders by Rs 60 and commercial cylinders by Rs 115.

The protesters said the price hike has placed crores of people across the country under financial strain and warned that the steep rise in commercial LPG prices could severely affect the hotel industry.

During the protest, demonstrators also displayed LPG cylinders bearing pictures of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, expressing their anger over the price hike.

The protest was attended by Ashok Kumar Kodavoor, Udupi District Congress president and Udupi District Guarantee Scheme Implementation Committee president; M A Gafoor, president of the Coastal Development Authority; Jyothi Hebbar, president of Udupi District Mahila Congress; Veronica Cornelio, spokesperson, and others.