Millions Protest Against Fuel Price Rise in India

Millions of Indians have taken part in a nationwide strike to protest against fuel price rises. The combined national strike forced the closure of schools, markets, offices and transport lines.

Photo: Millions Protest Against Fuel Price Rise in India

Flights were cancelled in Kolkata and Mumbai and trains were blockaded in several rural areas. Thousands of police were deployed on the streets of the capital New Delhi, ABC Online says.

India ’s state-run fuel companies will lose more than $11 billion this fiscal year, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said last month. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Sunday that the fuel price increases would not be rolled back, regardless of the scope of Monday’s protests.

The Congress government is paring market controls that keep prices of some goods artificially low in India. At the same time, it is investing in employment programs, New York Times reports.