Congress protests against power, water crisis and rail fare hike; burn effigies of Narendra Modi and Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: Protests by Congress against hike in rail fares and ongoing power and water crisis in the city continued today with the party workers holding demonstrations at Pandav Nagar chowk, Chattarpur Mandir chowk and Kanjhawala road in Budh Vihar.

The agitators also burned the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Railway Minister Sadanand Gowda and former Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal.

At the Chattarpur Mandir chowk, people from the South Delhi colonies and villages who were angry with Delhi Government for the demolition drive being carried out, also joined the demonstration.

The protests led to jam and traffic was disrupted for over three hours.

The protesters also clashed with police a few times. The party workers also staged demonstration at Budh Vihar chowk and at Pandav Nagar and blocked the road.

Former Union Minister Krishna Tirath carried empty pot on her head as a mark of protest against water crisis in the city.

"After forming government at the Centre, Narendra Modi has begun issuing autocratic orders," said Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Arvinder Singh.

He alleged that Modi's harsh decisions and the bitter medicines would prove fatal for the people of the country and Delhi.

"The hike in rail fare would have a direct impact on the poor people of Delhi and hike in freight tariff would push up the coal price, and as a result, the power tariff would hit the roof. On the one hand people wait on the roads for power and water while on the other, suggestions were being mooted to hike the power tariff," Singh said.

Congress leaders further said that the tourism industry has been severely affected by the power and water crisis, thereby considerably affecting income from tourism industry.