PANAJI: The state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, as a part of the nationwide agitation launched by the party against the recent hike in the prices of the petroleum products by the central government, organised a token agitation near the Captain of Ports jetty, in the city on Monday, and held demonstrations against the particular decision.

The BJP state unit president, Mr Laxmikant Parsekar, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar, the deputy leader of the BJP legislative party, Mr Francis D’Souza and most of the MLAs of the party participated in the demonstrations. The demonstrations also witnessed burning of an effigy of the Petroleum Minister, Mr Murli Deora. 
Launching a scathing attack on the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, for its anti-public policy decision, the state BJP leaders said that the latest hike in the fuel prices is completely unnecessary and intolerable as it hurts the common man. They also observed that the de-controlling of fuel prices would help the oil public sector and further allow the private sector to profiteer at the expense of the man on the street.
Stating that the previous hike of the petroleum prices was just three months ago, the BJP leaders observed that the government decision would set into motion a process, which will increase prices of everything from public transport to essential commodities. Some of the party leaders opined that the state government should immediately reduce the state taxes on the petroleum products, so as to provide relief to the common man.