Kolkata: Amid the daily hike in fuel rates in the country, the opposition parties have come down on streets demanding the center to slash the taxes. While Congress has been doing Padyatra to oppose the hike in diesel and petrol prices, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has found a unique way to protest against the surge in fuel rates.
Bengal's Didi rode pillion on an electric scooter to state secretariat Nabanna. West Bengal CM Banerjee was seen sitting behind state minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, who rode the battery-powered electric scooter.
Opposing the spike in fuel prices, Banerjee rode an e-scooter with a placard in protest. Following all the traffic rules, helmet-clad Banerjee waved at people on both sides of the road during the five-km-long journey from Hazra More to the state secretariat.
Her apron-like poster with the picture of an LPG cylinder superscribed terms like "petrol price hike" and "diesel price hike" under the heading "What is in your mouth".
Initially riding pillion as state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Minister Firhad Hakim rode the battery-powered scooter, the Chief Minister herself took over the bike towards the last leg of her journey. Her scooter was followed by a group of other leaders. The entire ride was telecasted Live on Facebook. Mamata Banerjee was seen in her trademark white cotton saree and Hawai-slippers representing the everyday women of West Bengal.
In Kolkata, petrol costs ₹ 91.12 and a cylinder of cooking gas comes at a reported ₹ 820.50, rising three times this month alone.
The Bengal Assembly Polls is likely to be held in April-May as the Election Commission might announce the dates in few days. BJP has also gained good momentum in Bengal by launching the Pariwartan Yatra and the heavyweights like PM Modi and Amit Shah visiting the poll-bound state.