The government on June 25, 2010 hiked prices of petrol by Rs 3.50 a litre and diesel by Rs 2 a litre, raised LPG by Rs 35 a cylinder and the poor man’s cooking fuel kerosene by Rs 3 a litre.
Satirist-actor Jaspal Bhatti, in his unique style, now has a novel idea to get his message against price rise across in a lighter vein he is suggesting people burn effigies of the leaders and cook food on them.
‘I urge all opposition parties and members of the public to cook their food by burning effigies of the government. With prices of all fuels, including cooking gas, beyond the means of the public, cooking food by burning effigies will be the cheapest mode’.
Bhatti and his ‘Nonsense Club’ members enacted a short skit there to highlight the plight of the common man after the latest hike in prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG cooking cylinders.
‘If the government cannot give subsidies on LPG, it must announce a sufficient subsidy on effigies. The government should promote the effigy-making industry,’ Bhatti said.
‘There are thousands of protest rallies every day across the country against government policies or other issues. Effigy burning is an inherent part of such proceedings. If we harness that energy for cooking and other household uses, we can beat inflation to some extent,’ he said.
Bhatti suggested: ‘People should do away with their gas stoves as it is impossible for a common man to afford an LPG cylinder priced at Rs.350. Housewives should burn effigies of the prominent leaders for everyday cooking.’
In his satirical style, Bhatti said the effigies of heavy-weight ministers could be burnt to generate more heat for cooking purposes.
