Mangaluru : Former minister Ramanath Rai on Saturday called upon people to support the Bharat Bandh called by the Congress party on September 10.

Addressing media persons here Ramanath Rai said, “The Dakshina Kannada district has supported the bandh against rise in prices of petroleum products,” he told.

Rai termed hike in prices of petroleum products despite decline in the prices of crude oil at international market as national disaster.

“Hiking prices in India is an attempt to loot the people of the country,” he charged.

“Modi had promised acche din after coming to power. He had promised of reducing the prices of petrol and diesel. the prices of petrol and diesel have reached all time high, but Modi is silent. The price of one LPG cylinder during the UPA government was Rs 400, but it is Rs 800 now,” he charged.

The Central government was helping capitalists and had failed to redress grievances of common man, Rai alleged.

MLC Ivan D’souza, former MLAs J R Lobo, Mohideen Bava, former mayor Kavitha Sanil, corporator Vinayaraj, MCC chief whip Shashidhar Hegde and others were present.