PTI, LUCKNOW: In a novel protest against spiralling petrol and diesel prices, a Congress legislator wrote to the principal secretary of the Legislative Council today to issue him a vehicle pass for a bullock cart, which, he said, would also be used to ferry other members of the party.
MLC Dipak Singh said earlier some legislators had tried to come to the Vidhan Sabha on a bullock cart, but they were not allowed.
“That is why I have sought a vehicle pass for facilitating my coming and going from the main building where we have to come very often for various works, even when the House in not in session,” he told PTI.
Petrol and diesel prices have been on the rise, posing immense hardships to the common people and no respite is in sight, the Congress MLC said, adding that his move will save fuel as he will ferry his legislator colleagues.
In his letter to the principal secretary, Singh said, “The present BJP government has failed to check (rise in) prices of diesel and petrol… to facilitate smooth and reasonable mode of transport for commuting to and fro Vidhan Bhawan, kindly direct the appropriate authorities to issue me a pass for bullock cart for the calendar year 2018.”
“I will also use my bullock cart for ferrying other members of my party,” he wrote. The Uttar Pradesh Congress had organised state-wide demonstrations yesterday to protest hike in fuel prices, burnt effigies of the central government and submitted to district officials their memorandum addressed to the President of India.
Petrol and diesel prices were raised for the 11th day in succession yesterday as the state-owned oil firms gradually passed on to the consumer the increased cost of international oil that had accumulated since a 19-day freeze was imposed just before Karnataka elections.
