Opposition calls all-India strike July 5

The Left parties, AIADMK, Telugu Desam Party, Samajwadi Party, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) yesterday called for a countrywide dawn-to-dusk strike July 5 to protest against the fuel price hike.
The parties accused the Congress-led government of giving 'another cruel blow' to the people by removing controls over petroleum pricing and raising the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas.
'This (shutdown) comes after its (central government's) refusal to take any effective step to curb price rise of food items and essential commodities which is causing suffering to the people,' said a statement jointly issued by the Left parties here.
‘On top of the food inflation at nearly 17 percent and the general inflation rate in double digits, the Congress-led government has callously raised the fuel prices making the burden on the people unbearable,' it said.