Mumbai, May 27 (IANS) The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president, Harshwardhan Sapkal, on Wednesday led a protest against the four hikes in petrol and diesel prices over the last eight days.

Sapkal told reporters, “The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has crippled the common man by imposing steep price hikes on petrol, diesel, LPG, and CNG. The PM Modi government has pushed inflation-hit citizens further into hardship through rising fuel prices.”

“There is no petrol, no diesel, LPG cylinders are missing, fuel prices have skyrocketed, farmers are not getting fair prices for their produce, and the public is distressed, yet the BJP government remains indifferent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a jinx for the country, and ever since he came to power, he has been burdening the people of the nation,” Sapkal alleged.

He further claimed that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was blatantly lying.

“If he believes there is an adequate stock of petrol and diesel, then why are people standing in long queues at petrol pumps in the scorching afternoon heat? If the government believes hoarding is taking place, then strict action should be taken,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) State President Shashikant Shinde warned that a massive statewide agitation would erupt across Maharashtra if injustice against farmers continued.

Speaking to the media, Shinde stated that the recent protests organised by the opposition had clearly shaken the ruling government.

“If the Chief Minister dismisses our agitations as a ‘political stunt’, then the government itself is responsible for forcing the opposition to take to the streets,” Shinde said, adding that strong anti-government sentiment was building across the state.

Shinde highlighted that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had launched aggressive protests across the state demanding fair prices for onions and a revision of the current export policy.

Major demonstrations, including rasta rokos (road blockades) and marches, were held in prominent onion-producing belts such as Chandwad (Nashik district), Sambhajinagar, Junnar, and Otur.

During these protests, several farmers and party workers were detained by the police.

Shinde emphasised that during a massive rally held at Chandwad in May 2026, MVA leaders firmly demanded a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 3,000 per quintal for onions.

Taking a sharp dig at the ruling coalition, Shinde noted the irony of its political stance.

“Those who used to criticise the Congress for taking decisions from Delhi are now rushing to Delhi themselves,” he remarked.

He asserted that state leaders should possess enough political weight to resolve Maharashtra’s issues internally.

Resorting to Delhi for meetings on onion, sugarcane, and sugar issues indicates a failure to effectively present Maharashtra’s stand, Shinde argued.

He credited the MVA’s protests for mounting pressure on the government, forcing it to approach Delhi, while exposing a lack of consensus within the ruling alliance.

–IANS

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