Fuel Price Fury: Stakes High as Political Battle Intensifies

The opposition parties, BJD and Congress, have intensified their demand for an immediate rollback of the fuel price hike initiated by the ruling BJP. Both parties accuse the BJP of hypocrisy regarding GST on petrol and diesel.

On Friday, the women's wing of the Congress staged a demonstration in Bhubaneswar, denouncing a Rs 3 per litre hike on petrol and diesel. Lenin Mohanty, a spokesperson for BJD, criticized the BJP for their contradictory stance on GST inclusion for these fuels, a stance that has allegedly flipped since coming to power.

The BJD claimed that despite international crude oil prices dropping, fuel costs remained unchanged to benefit oil companies. As such, BJD argues the recent price increases are a mere protection of corporate profits. Protests continue as the opposition demands transparency and accountability from the BJP concerning fuel import pressures from Russia.

(With inputs from agencies.)