Gujarat Congress MLAs protest against "rising" inflation and fuel prices

Gujarat Congress MLAs Wednesday pedaled their way to the state Assembly for the monsoon session to register their protest against the "rising" inflation and fuel prices.

Riding bicycles and loading cycle-rickshaws, MLAs of the opposition party, including the leader of opposition Paresh Dhanani and state unit chief Amit Chavda, reached the Assembly complex covering a distance of around 3.5 km. Some members even rode bullock-carts.

Holding placards, some members shouted slogans against the Modi government over the rise in petrol, diesel and cooking gas prices and sought measures to control inflation. "We demand reduction in prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas and also sought that these items be brought under GST. We held this symbolic protest asking the government to take measures to control inflation," Dhanani said.

MLA Ganiben Thakor said rising prices of petrol and diesel affected the common man and raised inflation. "Rise in diesel prices has increased the input costs for farmers, who are already reeling under financial distress due to high prices of fertilizers and seeds," she said. "We demand immediate reduction in the prices of these essential items," she said.