Himachal Pradesh Congress Calls for Statewide Demo on Fuel Price Hike – May 25

On Thursday, the Himachal Pradesh unit of the Indian National Congress announced that it will launch a statewide protest on May 25, targeting the recent surge in fuel prices that has left commuters and traders reeling.

Party spokesperson Sh. Anil K. Sood said the decision was taken after consultations with senior leaders and local party workers. “We cannot sit back while the common man bears the brunt of a 12‑percent hike in petrol and diesel,” he told reporters, his voice edged with frustration.

The protest is slated to include a massive rally in Shimla, road blockades in major towns such as Dharamshala and Mandi, and a symbolic “fuel tank” march that will wind through hill‑top villages. Organisers hope the visual impact will force the centre to rethink its pricing policy.

State Congress chief Sanjay Puri added that the move is also a response to what the party calls “unjustified economic policies” that hurt the poor and the middle class. “Our people have already felt the pinch of rising food prices; adding a steep fuel surcharge only deepens their hardships,” he said.

Local traders, who rely heavily on diesel‑powered trucks for transporting vegetables and handicrafts, welcomed the announcement. “If the protest succeeds, it will give us some breathing space,” said Manoj Sharma, a shop owner from Kullu.

Meanwhile, the central government’s ministry of petroleum and natural gas has defended the price revision as a market‑driven adjustment, citing global crude price trends. A spokesperson declined to comment on the impending protest, noting that “policy decisions follow international benchmarks.”

As the date approaches, both supporters and critics alike are watching closely. The protest could become a flashpoint in the larger debate over inflation control, especially with elections on the horizon.