Hyderabad, April 02: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged separate protests against the increase in power tariff here on Friday. The increase would burden the people by about Rs. 1,500 crore directly and indirectly, the parties alleged.
Activists of CPI (M) and its frontal organisations led by its State secretary B.V. Raghavulu, senior leaders P. Madhu, Y. Venkateswara Rao, S. Malla Reddy and others staged a novel protest by marching with lanterns and kerosene lamps from M.B. Bhavan (party office) to RTC crossroads. They also burnt an effigy of the State government amid slogans against the Chief Minister demanding rollback of increase in power tariff.
Speaking at the protest rally, Mr. Raghavulu alleged that the government’s move was aimed at enabling the private and corporate power generation companies make huge profits. He recollected that the party’s heroic agitation had prevented the government from increasing the tariff for 10 years. The CPI (M) would intensify its agitation if the government fails to roll back the increase in power tariff and also the increase in property tax.
Meanwhile, BJP activists led by senior leader Bandaru Dattatreya and Greater Hyderabad unit president B. Venkat Reddy burnt an effigy of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy at RTC crossroads protesting against the increase. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Dattatreya pointed out that the increase was against the promise made by the ruling party not to raise the power tariff in their 2009 election manifesto.
In its extended State executive meeting on Friday, the Communist Party of India (CPI) too decided to hold protests throughout April on all people’s problems including increase in power tariff and property tax.
-Agencies