KOZHIKODE: Thousands of people are taking to the WhatsApp to vent their ire at the hike in fuel prices, and they will observe September 22 as a black day without a call of politicians or organisations. They will protest tagging black badges, fixing black flag on vehicles, setting display picture black and distributing black badges in public venues.
Jackson Chunkath, a businessman in Thrissur, first formed the protest group on WhatsApp and now there are some 50 groups across the state with each having 256 members.
“No political party is noticing the price hike after daily revision mechanism came into force and they increased Rs 6 a litre of petrol since July and Rs 4 on diesel. As the spike doesn’t come once but daily in the form of small amounts no one is taking notice of the pick pocketing,” says Mr Chunkath.
Initially, he formed the group among his friend circle, but the overwhelming response had caused to form groups at district and even taluk levels.
“Each of them can decide their way of peaceful protest. If a parent pins black badge on the uniform of his child and sends him to school, that registers intense public anger,” he says. Different groups had decided to take protest rallies, distribute black badges and pamphlets at fuel outlets and many such demonstrations.
“It exposes the failure of mainstream political parties to gauge the public mood. People also realise that there is none to take care of them,” said Iqbal M.P,, a teacher in Vadakara.
