Opposition, UPA allies to protest against government on 20 september

New Delhi: Opposition BJP and some UPA allies will took off their agitation on September 20 across the country to protest the hike in diesel price and FDI in multi-brand retail.

In a joint statement, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav along with Left parties, JD(S), BJD and TDP alleged that the UPA government has “struck cruel blows on the people one after another” by raising diesel price, limiting subsidised cooking gas, opening up of multi-brand retail and disinvestment of PSUs.

“Let us all unite to stop these measures which will further burden the people and ruin their livelihood. Let there be a powerful protest on September 20 through hartals, picketing, demonstrations and court arrest programmes,” the statement said.

BJP-led NDA separately announced that it will hold a nation-wide strike on the same day, September 20, to demand rollback of FDI in multi-brand retail and the Rs 5 hike in diesel prices.

NDA Working Chairperson L K Advani said the people of the country were feeling “suffocated” by the UPA government and want this to end. He asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to introspect and call for fresh polls.

“I am sure that the suffocation felt by the people for a long time is about to come to an end. It would be prudent and wise for the Prime Minister and the government itself to decide that they will not wait till 2014 for the people to give their opinion about the UPA government. Let them call for an early election. Let the people make a decision,” he said.

SP and JD(S), which are supporting the UPA government from outside, have been critical of the government’s decisions. They along with Left parties had earlier written a joint letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on price hike issue.