Date:10/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/10/stories/2008061052780300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Opposition demands rollback in prices

Staff Reporter

ADILABAD: Monday was a day of protests in Adilabad as the four opposition parties of CPI (M), CPI, BJP and TRS staged dharnas and rasta rokos demanding rollback in LPG, petrol and diesel prices, availability of fertilizers and provision of amenities in the localities where encroachments had taken place as the Left parties’ ‘bhu akramanam’ programme last year.

Police arrested about 100 CPI (M) protesters from the two slums that had sprung up behind new housing board and behind the spinning mill last year following encroachments.

Some of the agitators who were not arrested regrouped and staged a rasta roko on the NH 7 at Collectorate Chowk demanding regularisation of the encroached plots and provision of amenities like water and power supply.

The TRS and CPI staged simultaneous dharnas in front of the Collectorate demanding adequate supply of fertilizers and rollback in the prices of LPG, petrol and diesel. At Punjab Chowk the BJP too staged a dharna demanding roll back in prices.

Party activists cooked food on ovens fuelled by wood as a mark of protest.