Monday, June 20 2005 13:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Hours after the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government increased petrol and diesel prices today (Jun 20, 2005), the Left parties announced nationwide demonstrations against the hike, which are likely to be held on June 28.

The "protest actions" will tentatively be held on June 28 in coordination with trade unions and other mass organisations, Communist Party of India (CPI) national secretary D Raja said in New Delhi.

"The Left parties do not agree with the Government on increasing the prices of petrol and diesel. It will have a cascading effect and heap a huge burden on the common man and adversely affect the economy, which is already witnessing an upward trend in inflation and general price rise," he said.

But Raja appeared satisfied with the Government's decision not to increase prices of kerosene and LPG, which he said was due to "the reasonable arguments advanced by the Left.

"But we are opposed to the hiking of petrol and diesel prices as it would impact the prices of essential commodities."

Forward Bloc general secretary Debabrata Biswas said, "Our opposition to any hike in the prices of petroleum products was very well known. All the four Left parties will now sit together and announce the date of our agitation programme".

The Union Cabinet today agreed to raise petrol and diesel prices by Rs.2.50 and Rs 2 per lire respectively, even as international crude prices reached a record high of $59.18 a barrel.