YSRCP leads Statewide revolt against Price burden
Responding to the call given by YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, party leaders, cadre, and people across Andhra Pradesh staged peaceful statewide protests on Monday against the steep increase in petrol and diesel prices. Rallies, dharnas, and innovative protest programmes were organised in all constituency headquarters, and memorandums were submitted to officials demanding immediate reduction in fuel prices. Leaders stated that the hike in fuel prices has imposed a severe burden on common people, farmers, and middle-class families.
In Guntur, former minister Ambati Rambabu led the protest and criticised the coalition government, stating that petrol and diesel prices in Andhra Pradesh are the highest in the country. He attacked Nara Lokesh for allegedly going back on pre-election promises to reduce fuel taxes and prices, sarcastically remarking, “Not Lokesh… his name should be Love Cash.” He warned that YSRCP would intensify statewide protests if prices are not reduced.
In Vijayawada West, former minister Velampalli Srinivasa Rao organised a protest near the Vidyadharapuram Tahsildar office by symbolically pulling an auto-rickshaw with ropes. He accused Chandrababu Naidu, Lokesh, and Pawan Kalyan of betraying the promises made before elections.
In Vijayawada East, NTR district president and constituency in-charge Devineni Avinash led a unique protest rally against the coalition government, accusing it of burdening people after promising to reduce fuel prices during elections. Bikes were loaded onto bullock carts and Avinash himself pulled the carts, demanding immediate implementation of promises made to the public. He stated that Andhra Pradesh now tops the country in petrol and diesel prices and submitted a memorandum to the MRO at the Patamata VMC Circle-3 office. Large numbers of party leaders, auto workers, and supporters participated in the protest.
In Krishna district, Devabhaktuni Chakravarthy led a padayatra from Tadigadapa to the municipal office and criticised the government for advising people to reduce fuel usage instead of reducing fuel prices.
In Nellore, former minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy and MLC Chandrasekhar Reddy organised a rickshaw rally from Barakasu Centre to the Collectorate. Kakani criticised Lokesh, stating that the leader who once took selfies at petrol bunks should now witness the suffering of the public.
In Bobbili and Vizianagaram, YSRCP leaders submitted memorandums to local MROs demanding rollback of increased fuel prices.
In Kaikaluru, former MLA Doolam Nageswara Rao led protests alleging that soaring petrol and diesel prices are crushing the people of Andhra Pradesh.
In Tadepalligudem, YSRCP in-charge Vaddi Raghuram Naidu organised protests and submitted a memorandum to the RDO demanding reduction in fuel prices.
In Pendurthi, former MLA Annamreddy Addep Raj led a protest at the Tahsildar office and submitted a representation against the price hike.
In Gudivada, police allegedly obstructed YSRCP leaders while they attempted to protest at the RDO office. Leaders stated that rising fuel prices have broken the backbone of common people.
In Anantapur, a massive rally was organised from Lalitha Kala Parishad to the RDO office, with leaders alleging that the fuel price hike has imposed an additional annual burden of Rs. 3,600 crore on the people of the state.
In Railway Koduru, a unique protest was held under the leadership of former MLA Koramutla Srinivasulu. Autos were tied to buffaloes and dragged in protest while a rally was conducted from the party office to the YSR statue near the toll gate. Srinivasulu criticised the coalition government for betraying election promises and pointed out that petrol prices in Andhra Pradesh had risen to Rs.113.62 per litre and diesel to Rs.101.24 per litre. He also alleged that the state is collecting 31% VAT, Rs.4 additional tax, and Rs.1 road development cess on petrol.
In Kothapeta, district YSRCP president Chirla Jaggireddy organised a unique protest by riding a rickshaw carrying a motorcycle from a petrol bunk to the RDO office, demanding immediate rollback of fuel prices and warning that YSRCP would continue fighting for people’s issues.
In Panyam, former MLA Katasani Rambhupal Reddy and party leaders conducted a bullock-cart rally, accusing the coalition government of burdening people despite promising to reduce fuel prices before elections.
In Nandyal, former MLA Shilpa Ravi Chandra Kishore Reddy and former MP Pocha Brahmananda Reddy led a massive rally from Noonepalli to the Collector office demanding immediate reduction in petrol and diesel prices. Leaders alleged that Andhra Pradesh has become the state with the highest fuel prices in the country.
In Udayagiri, Mekapati Rajagopal Reddy personally drove a bullock cart as part of a protest rally against the fuel price hike before submitting a memorandum to the Tahsildar.
In Machilipatnam, YSRCP in-charge Perni Kittu led a unique protest by cycling and riding a rickshaw to the Collector office, demanding rollback of increased fuel prices.
In Kakinada, YSRCP leaders led by regional coordinator Kurasala Kannababu held a dharna at Sarpavaram Junction and later marched to the MRO office, accusing Chandrababu Naidu of failing in governance and abandoning promises made in the TDP manifesto regarding fuel prices.
Peaceful protest rallies were also conducted in Ongole, Penukonda, Kodumuru, Kadapa, Pattikonda, Bandi Atmakur, Dharmavaram, Puttaparthi, Kadiri, Valmikipuram, Tirupati, Visakhapatnam, Pulivendula, Jammalamadugu, and Rajampet, where YSRCP leaders and cadre organised rallies, submitted memorandums, and staged innovative protests using bullock carts, rickshaws, autos, and vehicles tied with ropes to symbolically highlight the burden caused by rising fuel prices. Leaders across the state demanded immediate rollback of increased petrol and diesel prices and accused the coalition government of betraying election promises and imposing severe financial hardship on the people of Andhra Pradesh.
