Agitators take to water for fuel price cut

Sep 17, 2012 |

chennai

Tags:

fishermen

More than 200 mechanised boat fishermen on Sunday staged jal satyagraha in Rameswaram wearing black headbands and waving black flags protesting against the recent diesel price hike and demanded that it be rolled back.

Over 1,500 mechanised boats did not venture into the sea from Rameswaram fishing harbour as part of the indefinite strike called by fishermen associations in protest against the diesel price hike.

Fisherman’s association president Balasubramaniyam said they were unable to manage costs with the earlier price and the hike would spell doom for them He said all fishermen's associations in Tamil Nadu planned to meet at Pattukottai tomorrow to chalk out the next course of action.

“We want the centre to provide a subsidy of Rs 5 per litre of diesel. And the state government should increase the diesel quota from 1,500 to 2,500 litres,” he demanded.

Joining protest against diesel hike, the drivers of share autos and TATA Magic staged protest in several parts of the state. Around 80,000 share autos are plying in the state.

Truckers association have announced that they would go on an indefinite strike from September 20 and would not accept any booking from September 18.

The price of diesel has gone up by Rs 6.37 per litre including sales tax. “The decision on protest against the diesel price hike will be taken at the All India Lorry Owners Association meeting to be held in Mumbai on September 18,” said R. Nallathambi, president of Federation of Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Association.

“We have decided to go on indefinite strike from September 20. It will be announced in the Mumbai meeting. Before that we will stop taking bookings from September 18 itstelf,” he said.

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