Maharashtra Congress protests against hike in petrol and diesel prices

The Maharashtra Congress launched a protests across the state on Monday against the increase in fuel prices, and demanded prices should be slashed.

A senior party leader said people were already hit hard by the coronavirus-induced lockdown, hence at such a time the Centre should reduce the fuel prices.

Several Congress ministers, including Balasaheb Thorat, Ashok Chavan and Nitin Raut, staged a protest at the party office in Mumbai.

"The petrol and diesel prices have been increased by the Centre in last some days. The prices should be slashed as people are already affected by the lockdown, said Thorat, who is the Maharashtra Congress president and the state revenue minister.

Former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan led a protest in Sangli along with state minister Vishwajit Kadam.

Besides, state minister Satej Patil staged a protest against the fuel price hike in Kolhapur.

Diesel price scaled a new high on Monday after prices were hiked for the 22nd time in just over three weeks, taking the cumulative increase to Rs 11.14 per litre.

Petrol price was increased by 5 paise per litre and diesel 13 paise a litre across the country, according to a price notification of state oil marketing companies.

While the diesel rates have been hiked for the 22nd time since June 7, petrol price has been raised on 21 occasions.