Mamata’s protest march today, DMK stir on May 30, SP and others for bandh on May 31
KOLKATA/CHENNAI/LUCKNOW: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will take out a protest march in Kolkata today while DMK has given a call for an agitation in Tamil Nadu on May 30. Meanwhile UPA’s outside supporter, the Samajwadi Party yesterday gave a call for a statewide bandh in Uttar Pradesh on May 31 to press for roll back of the petrol price hike.
The protest action by the Trinamool chief and the DMK are expected to lend weight to a united opposition onslaught against the hike with the BJP-led NDA and the Left already announcing an All India bandh on May 31.
“The SP’s state executive meeting chaired by chief Mulayam Singh Yadav decided to hold state-wide bandh on May 31 to protest hike in petrol prices. We will demand from the Centre to check inflation and roll back petrol price hike,” SP spokesman Rajendra Chowdury said.
Anna Hazare also announced support for the Bharat Bandh, saying his supporters will participate in the stir.
Joining the growing political opposition to the Rs 7.54 per litre hike, the ruling BJD in Odisha gave a call for a state-wide bandh on May 31 to demand an immediate rollback.
Banerjee would lead the procession from Jadavpore to Hazra crossing, covering a distance of 5 km in south Kolkata, Panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee told PTI in Kolkata.
“It will be a major voice of protest against the petrol price hike,” Mukherjee said.
Announcing DMK’s protest plans, the party said in a release that it would stage peaceful demonstrations in front of the central government offices and district collectorates at all district headquarters in Tamil Nadu.
“DMK cannot remain ignorant of people’s issues” though it is a UPA constituent,” party supremo and former chief minister M Karunanidhi said in Chennai.