Lucknow, Jun 28 (IANS): The Samajwadi Party (SP) announced here Monday that it will join the nationwide strike called by the Left parties July 5 to protest the fuel price hike.

"In the past also, we have carried out several demonstrations against price hike of commodities. This time, too, we would fight on behalf of the citizens of the country and carry out a joint protest along with the Left parties over the recent hike of petroleum products," SP state spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary told reporters here.

"The price hike will adversely affect the poor of the country. In the interest of the people of the country, the central government must immediately withdraw the hike in prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas," he said.

"The Congress-led central government only projects that it works for the common man, but while formulating the policies the government just does not bother about the common man," he added.

The SP alleged that the government's decision to increase fuel prices was taken only to benefit industrial groups and that the interest of the poor people was completely ignored.

"SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has also appealed to the public to support the party during its strike against the rise in prices," said Chaudhary.