Srinagar: The unprecedented steep hike in petrol price on Thursday seems to have hit people in Kashmir hard, the angry protesters saying that it would cripple markets, services and other sectors in the state.
Even Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his resentment over the petrol price increase.
Omar's post on micro blogging site Twitter said, "Petrol Pump Attendant: Saab, Kitne ka daaloon? Customer: 2-4 Rupaye ka car ke upar spray kar de bhai. Aag lagani hai".
"Time has come for us to finally burn our auto-rickshaws and start begging. A Rs 7.50 hike was never imagined. I owe the bank about a lakh of rupees besides my own investment in the vehicle. How would I now repay the loan and sustain my family?" said Manzoor Ahmad, an auto-rickshaw driver.
Office-goers are not any less angry over the unprecedented petrol price increase.
The central government's argument that the hike decision had been taken independently by the oil companies has no buyers in the valley.
"The policy planners of the country are fast asleep. They are trying to fight the dollar appreciation in comparison to rupee, but countering the economic threat without caring for the common man could be political suicide for the rulers," said Showkat Sahil, a local columnist.
"The worst is yet to come. The likely hike in diesel and LPG prices will spell complete disaster for us," said Shabir Ahmad, a newspaper office boy.
Even Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed his resentment over the petrol price increase.
Omar's post on micro blogging site Twitter said, "Petrol Pump Attendant: Saab, Kitne ka daaloon? Customer: 2-4 Rupaye ka car ke upar spray kar de bhai. Aag lagani hai".
"Time has come for us to finally burn our auto-rickshaws and start begging. A Rs 7.50 hike was never imagined. I owe the bank about a lakh of rupees besides my own investment in the vehicle. How would I now repay the loan and sustain my family?" said Manzoor Ahmad, an auto-rickshaw driver.
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Office-goers are not any less angry over the unprecedented petrol price increase.
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The central government's argument that the hike decision had been taken independently by the oil companies has no buyers in the valley.
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"The policy planners of the country are fast asleep. They are trying to fight the dollar appreciation in comparison to rupee, but countering the economic threat without caring for the common man could be political suicide for the rulers," said Showkat Sahil, a local columnist.
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"The worst is yet to come. The likely hike in diesel and LPG prices will spell complete disaster for us," said Shabir Ahmad, a newspaper office boy.
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