Fuel price hike draws nationwide protest

NEW DELHI, July 5 (UPI) -- Indian's opposition parties observed a one-day nationwide strike Monday to protest a hike in fuel prices, leading to disruption of normal life in some cities.

Several parties from the left to the right, including the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP, observed the strike or bandh against the Congress party-led ruling coalition's recent decision that boosted the price of gasoline by about 30 cents a gallon at a time when inflation is on the rise. The prices of other fuels such as kerosene and cooking gas also went up.

Schools, colleges and offices remained closed Monday in many parts of the country and flights were canceled, the Times of India reported. The capital New Delhi was partially affected with BJP workers disrupting movement of vehicles in some parts of the city, the report said.

Rail services were disrupted in Uttar Pradesh, India's largest state, where some opposition leaders were arrested, the Press Trust of India reported.

In Mumbai, India's financial capital, most taxis and auto rickshaws stayed off the roads as a precautionary measure, IANS reported, adding more than 80 domestic flights were canceled at Mumbai airport.

In the BJP-ruled state of Karnataka, the strike was more effective with many software companies closed in and around Bangalore, the state capital. While rail services were mostly normal, Bangalore local transportation was restricted.

The government, however, has remained firm in its decision not to roll back the fuel price hikes.

The increases are part of the government's effort to roll back fuel subsidies blamed for contributing to the fiscal deficit. But they come as the country is already reeling under double-digit inflation with the fuel price hike expected to add another percentage point to the rate.