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A state-wide shutdown spearheaded by the opposition RJD-LJP combine in Bihar against the hike in fuel prices began on Saturday morning. Elaborate security arrangements have been made to prevent any untoward incidents. Essential services, including hospital, water supply and electricity have been exempted from the purview of the shutdown. According to sources, railway stations have been provided with additional security. The administration will try to keep all links to major towns open. Meanwhile, LJP president Ramvilas Paswan has slammed the Centre and the state government for failing to contain the sky rocketing of prices of essential commodities. "We have called the shutdown to exert pressure on the Centre to withdraw the recent hike of prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene, and cooking gas," he added. Earlier on June 25, a ministerial panel headed by Mukherjee, had lifted pricing controls on petroleum following which the price of petrol went up by Rs 3.50 a litre. The government hiked the prices of diesel by Rs.2 a litre, kerosene by Rs.3 a litre and cooking gas by Rs.35 per cylinder.

Bihar shuts down over fuel price hike row