Bhubaneswar:
Protests and demonstrations were organised in various parts of Odisha on Thursday against the hike in petrol prices by an unprecedented amount of over Rs.7 a litre by oil marketing companies.
In the state capital Bhubaneswar, the youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) state unit carried out a motorcycle rally and staged protests in front of several petrol pumps.
"The atrocious, unbelievable hike is a cruel blow to the people," Jual Oram, BJP state president, said in a statement. "Our agitation will continue until the roll-back is done," he added.
"The current crisis in our economy is due to the wrong economic policies of the Manmohan Singh government, which has failed to check the rising prices of essential commodities," Mr Oram said.
The ruling Biju Janata Dal also sought immediate roll-back of the hike. "It would have far-reaching consequences. It will hit common people hard because it will have its maximum impact on the transport sector," state Finance Minister Prafulla Ghadai told reporters here.
The youth wing of the ruling Biju Janata Dal also held a protest near the Raj Bhavan, asking Governor MC Bhandare to immediately roll back the hike.
Similar protests were also reported in other towns of the state, including Sambalpur, Rourkela, Balangir, Cuttack, Puri, Balasore and Berhampur.