Around 100 motorcycles pilots and Rickshaw drivers in port town got lucky and were offered fuel at a subsidized rate of 50 rs as a part of Sankalp Amonkar led congress agitation over rising fuel prices in the country.
While the pilots and rickshaw owners hailed the move of Amonkar and appreciated the token offered by congress, they also hit out at the state and union government for not considering the plea of small time people and businessmen whose livelihood was affected by the rise in fuel prices.
Many congress workers gathered during the agitation near the Joshi Petrol pump at Vasco
Speaking to media, Sankalp Amonkar hot out at the Giver for the steep rise in fuel prices and demanded that the Government cut down the taxes imposed on fuel that had led to the rise in fuel prices.
” We decided to have a unique protest with banners that were put up while BJP was contesting the elections in 2014 so as to remind the government that it was they who had assured to get the petrol prices at 35 rs. While the UPA was in Power, the price of crude oil was at around 100 USD and the petrol price was at around 60. However presently the price of crude oil barrel is half the price at around 50 USD and yet the price is around 83 in Goa and over 90 rs elsewhere in the country. While the tax on fuel was at Rs 3 during UPA regime, the tax imposed now is ten times more and at 30 rs and this has led to the price hike. We demand that the Government come down on this tax so that the prices come down . Several motorcycle pilots and rickshaw owners have been finished during lockdowm and this rise has made their lives miserable. A normal person working in a private company may have to spend around 25 percent of his salary on fuel and many will be finished. The government has not considered the normal man in their budget and the price rise will have cascading effect and all the products including vegetables, milk products and groceries will also rise finishing the already struggling common man. In the regime of the BJP,the poorer become poor and the rich become richer. As a token of protest,we will be supplying fuel to around 100 motor cycle pilots and rickshaw at 50 rs per liter today ” said Amonkar
