Bhubaneswar, March 11 Demanding the reversal of the increase in LPG prices and smooth supply of cooking gas in Odisha, workers of the opposition BJD staged a protest in the busy Master Canteen area of the city on Wednesday.
Hundreds of workers from the Biju Mahila Janata Dal, Biju Yuva Janata Dal, and Biju Chhatra Janata Dal, along with women, youth, and students, joined the demonstration and expressed their resentment over the rising prices of LPG cylinders, edible oil, and other essential commodities.
The protest was led by Biju Mahila Janata Dal president Snehangini Chhuria, Biju Yuva Janata Dal president Chinmaya Sahoo, and Biju Chhatra Janata Dal president Ipsita Sahoo.
Holding up slogans against the BJP government, BJD workers staged a symbolic protest by cooking food on traditional wood stoves on the road.
The Centre had on March 7 raised the price of domestic LPG cylinders by Rs 60, while the price of commercial cylinders was increased by Rs 115.
Addressing the gathering, Chhuria alleged that under the Subhadra scheme, the BJP government had promised to provide Rs 50,000 to women, but had deceived them by giving only Rs 5,000.
Instead of strengthening the economic security of women, the government has doubled their hardships through repeated price hikes, she alleged.
The BJD's protest programme came a day after the women's wing of the Congress held a similar agitation in the city.