Udupi : The BJP organized a protest in Udupi town in front of the statue of the Mahatma near the service bus stand on September 20, Thursday, to condemn the diesel price hike and permission for FDI in retail sector.

Katapady Shanker Poojari,  Udupi Zilla Panchayat President, who addressed the agitators dubbed the prime minister as a puppet at the hands of the Congress President. He also predicted that the UPA government at the Centre may not last long.

Several BJP leaders including District BJP President Udaykumar Shetty, Shyamala Kunder, Upendra Nayak, Suresh Nayak, Geetanjali Suvarna took part in the protest.

In Kundapur : The Communist Party of India (Marxist) too opposed the hike in diesel price and FDI in retail sector by organizing a protest in the town. The party also strongly condemned the cap on subsidized LPG.

Many party leaders like Venkatesh Koni, H Narasimha and Mahabala were present.

The bundh was near total in the town with  schools and colleges closed down. The roads wore a deserted look in the absence of vehicles.