Oppn parties driven by Rahul Gandhi kick start 'Bharat Bandh'

New Delhi, Sep 10 Leaders of different opposition parties led by Congress president Rahul Gandhi kick started Monday the country-wide protest against rising fuel costs from Rajghat as a feature of the 'Bharat Bandh' call given by the party.

Gandhi, not long after his return from the Kailash Mansarovar, reached Rajghat and paid his tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. The bandh started after Gandhi offered holy water from the journey there.

At that point the Congress president, joined by AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and other opposition leaders, began the walk towards the Ramlila Maidan.

Head of Loktantrik Janata Dal party Sharad Yadav, Congress general secretary Ambika Soni and senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel also joined the march.

Azad said the across the country were joining hands to protest against the rising costs of petrol and diesel. "In Delhi too we are getting together under one stage and are beginning our protest from Rajghat," he said.

Twenty-one opposition parties are supporting the 'Bharat bandh', besides a number of chambers of commerce and traders' associations.

The party has demanded that petrol and diesel should be brought under the GST, by which oil costs could drop by about Rs 15 to Rs 18.

Petrol and diesel costs set new records Sunday.

As indicated by the value notice issued by the state fuel retailers, oil cost was raised Sunday by 12 paise a liter and diesel by 10 paise per liter.