MLAs turn to wood and sun to tackle fuel hike

While a majority of politicians and party workers went ahead and blocked streets, carried placards and shouted slogans to show their disapproval for the diesel price hike and increased LPG prices yesterday, two BJP MLAs chose to tackle the situation differently.

On fire: Shiv Sena supporters took to the streets and cooked food on the chulha to register their protest. Pic/Satyajit Desai

While Ravindra Chavan, an MLA from Dombivli, promised to teach residents of his area how to make a typical ‘chulha', Sardar Tara Singh, an MLA from Mulund, is planning to rope in solar power experts to educate residents of his area on how to reduce dependency on LPG and experiment with more viable options.

Chavan claims to represent an area dominated by the middle class where rarely has anyone ever defaulted on payment of electricity bills, but are still being given step-motherly treatment.

"I have got clay soil and am planning to teach every Dombivilikar how to make the traditional chulha. With prices skyrocketing, the common man cannot afford LPG and will finally have to go back to using the chulha. This plan I believe will be a success," Chavan said.

Agreeing with Chavan, Raj Purohit, city BJP chief said, "What is the common man left with now? The chulha is the only option left for us to use. The common man is trapped from all sides and hence, we are planning a mega protest outside the petroleum house in Mumbai."

Singh and his son Rajneet said that they have already spoken to some solar energy experts in Pune.

"LPG prices are extremely unaffordable. We will ask the solar power experts to advise residents about the benefit of solar power and how they can reduce LPG usage," Rajneet said. u00a0