Outrage Over Outrageous Oil Prices, Protests Escalate

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Police in Indian-administered Kashmir have used water canons and batons to disperse hundreds of government employees upset over fuel price rises. Dozens of people were detained after protesters gathered outside the office of the state's chief minister in the centre of the summer capital, Srinagar. "Roll back price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas," the protesters shouted before they were dispersed. Similar protests have also taken place in the north-eastern state of Assam.

The state was brought to a standstill on Monday by opposition parties unhappy about the fuel price rises. They have accused the central government of "inept handling" of oil prices. Offices, banks, shops and schools were closed and traffic stayed off the road. "The government has no concern for the common people," the coalition of tribal groups from Assam's hill areas said in a statement. "This will force tribals into starvation."

The BBC's Altaf Hussain in Srinagar says that the protests in Indian-administered Kashmir were twofold - between ordinary people unhappy over the fuel price rises and transport operators who were demanding a rise in fares to offset the high cost of diesel and petrol. The transport operators are demanding a financial package for operators affected by a high court order which orders them to discard 25-year-old vehicles. Our correspondent say that the lack of transport resulted in schools and colleges being closed and only skeletal staff at work in government offices. The strike also affected the functioning of banks as well. Although shops are open, trade has been hit heavily, our correspondent says. Last week strikes were held in the states of West Bengal, Tripura and Kerala by demonstrators who said that a 10% rise in fuel prices would fuel inflation. The government says it had no choice because of surging global oil prices.

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Photos courtesy of Gulf Times and BBC News

Original Source: BBC News