Agartala, May 27 - The ruling Left Front in Tripura today called for a 12-hour general strike in the state on May 31 to protest "unprecedented hike of petrol price."

The decision to call a general strike was taken in the meeting of the Left Front yesterday, Front Convener and Secretary of Tripura CPI-M, Bijan Dhar told reporters here.

"We are appealing to the people to protest against this hike which would in turn lead to rise in the already fuelled prices of essential commodities," he said.

The central government had taken the decision one day after the Parliament session was ended which was undemocratic and autocratic, he said.

Stating that that the government had effected hike of petrol price 15 times in the last three years, Dhar also criticizing BJP sayong that when they were in power they too had several times ordered for hike of petroleum products. PTI