On Friday, the Madhya Pradesh police filed charges against 30 persons, including Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and PC Sharma, for “Unlawful Assembly” at a rally in Bhopal against rising petrol costs.
Cases were filed under sections 188 and 145 of the Indian Penal Code, according to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ankit Jaiswal.
“Cases have been registered against 30 people, including Congress leaders Digvijaya Singh and PC Sharma, under IPC section 188 and 145,” ASP Jaiswal said.
Earlier in the day, addressing a protest in Bhopal, Digvijaya Singh had alleged that price of fuel could be reduced by at least Rs.25.
“At least Rs.25 can be reduced in fuel prices by cutting excise duty. Where are those who once used to criticise the UPA government over fuel price hikes? With rising fuel prices, consumer goods are also getting expensive,” Mr. Singh said.
The Congress staged a countrywide protest on Friday in response to increased Petrol and Diesel prices. Workers and party leaders marched around the country, holding placards and raising slogans against the central government.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said, “Modi government should stop looting the common people of the country. In the last five months, they have increased the fuel prices 44 times. On one side people are suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic and on the other, the government is increasing fuel prices. We are asking the government to give at least Rs.6,000 to poor people.”
Petrol prices have surged over the Rs.100 level in some regions of the nation in recent weeks.
Workers from the Congress demonstrated in Amritsar by carting a scrapped automobile on a bullock cart. In Kilpauk, Chennai, Tamil Nadu Congress president KS Alagiri and party workers staged a protest.
