Amaravati, May 18 (IANS) YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) staged protests across Andhra Pradesh on Monday against the hike in petrol and diesel prices and demanded immediate rollback.

Responding to the call given by YSRCP President and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, party leaders, cadre, and supporters staged massive protests in all constituencies.

Rallies, dharnas, padayatras, and innovative protest programmes were organised in almost every constituency, with leaders submitting memorandums to Collectors, RDOs, and Tahsildars demanding an immediate rollback of fuel prices.

YSRCP leaders alleged that the coalition government betrayed people after promising to reduce fuel prices before elections. They said the sharp increase in petrol and diesel prices was placing a severe burden on farmers, middle-class families, transport workers, and daily wage earners, besides triggering inflation in essential commodities.

In Guntur, former minister Ambati Rambabu led a protest and alleged that Andhra Pradesh now has the highest fuel prices in the country. He criticised minister Nara Lokesh for going back on pre-election promises of reducing taxes on fuel and sarcastically remarked that “Lokesh is not Love-kesh but Love-Cash.” He warned that the agitation would intensify if prices were not reduced.

In Vijayawada West, former minister Velampalli Srinivasa Rao staged a unique protest by pulling an auto-rickshaw with ropes near the Vidyadharapuram Tahsildar office.

In Vijayawada East, NTR district president Devineni Avinash led a massive rally in which bikes were placed on bullock carts to symbolise the burden imposed on common people. He accused the coalition government of cheating the public after coming to power.

In Krishna district, Devabhaktuni Chakravarthy organised a padayatra from Tadigadapa to the municipal office, while in Nellore, former minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy and MLC Chandrasekhar Reddy conducted a rickshaw rally from Barakasu Centre to the Collectorate. Kakani criticised Lokesh for posing for selfies at petrol bunks before elections but remaining silent now over soaring prices.

Several innovative protests were witnessed across the State. In Railway Koduru, former MLA Koramutla Srinivasulu tied autos to buffaloes and held a rally demanding reduction in petrol, diesel, and gas prices. He alleged that Andhra Pradesh was imposing the highest taxes on fuel in the country, stating that petrol prices had reached Rs 113.62 per litre and diesel Rs 101.24 per litre due to excessive VAT and cess imposed by the State government.

In Kothapeta, Konaseema district YSRCP president Chirla Jaggireddy rode a cycle rickshaw carrying a motorcycle to protest against the price hike. In Panyam, former MLA Katasani Ram Bhupal Reddy led a rally pulling autos and bullock carts with ropes, accusing the coalition government of burdening the public despite promising relief during elections.

Massive rallies were also held in Nandyal under the leadership of former MLA Shilpa Ravi Chandra Kishore Reddy and former MP Pocha Brahmananda Reddy, in Udayagiri under Mekapati Rajagopal Reddy, and in Machilipatnam under Perni Kittu, who rode a cycle rickshaw as part of the protest. In Visakhapatnam, district president KK Raju travelled on a bullock cart to the Tahsildar office, while in Pulivendula, YSRCP leaders tied ropes to a Bolero vehicle and pulled it in protest.

Former minister Botsa Satyanarayana led a major agitation in Cheepurupalli and demanded immediate withdrawal of the fuel price hike. He said rising fuel costs were breaking the backs of farmers, labourers, and middle-class families already struggling with inflation. He asserted that YSRCP under the leadership of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy would continue to fight relentlessly on public issues.

–IANS

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