France 'Yellow Vest' Protests: Government scraps all planned fuel price hikes; appeals for calm

The French government appealed for calm and said that all the planned increases in the fuel tax for 2019 have been scrapped.

A "Yellow vest" (Gilet Jaune) protester kicks back a tear gas canister during clashes as part of a demonstration on November 30, 2018, near major EU buildings in Brussels. - Around 300 people demonstrated at the call of the spreading "yellow vest" movement, which had already organised large protests across France to complain about fuel tax increases. (Photo by Aris Oikonomou / AFP)

New Delhi: Bowing down to the pressure exerted by the “Yellow Vest” protests that have stormed the streets of France, the government on Wednesday scrapped all planned fuel tax hikes for 2019. The massive demonstration which started as a protest against high fuel taxes but rapidly ballooned to encompass rising living costs, attracted worldwide attention as the protesters resorted to violence and staged a spectacular demonstration against the Emmanuel Macron government. The French government appealed for calm and said that all the planned increases in the fuel tax for 2019 have been scrapped. An increase scheduled for January 1, was "scrapped for the year 2019" in its entirety, Environment Minister Francois de Rugy announced on BFM TV, in an about-turn for the government. The government also warned of possible violence ahead of the new round of protest planned for Saturday in Paris and other parts of the country. It said that there have been calls for fresh mobilisation of the “yellow vest” movement and a major violence is feared. Four people have died and over hundreds have been injured in the violent demonstrations so far. The demonstration turned over an ugly side on Sunday when demonstrators blocked roads, torched vehicles, and vandalised shops in large numbers. The government on Wednesday signaled that they were ready to make further concessions to avoid violence.