Bengaluru: The Karnataka Congress Monday took out a bicycle rally to protest against the galloping fuel prices here.

KPCC President DK Shivakumar, Opposition Leader Siddaramaiah and other former ministers including Dinesh Gundu Rao pedaled their way from the party office to Vidhana Soudha.

The protesting Congress men raised slogans attacking the BJP government at the Centre for its failure to control the spiraling prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas.

Before hitting the pedals, Shivakumar said despite the fall in crude oil prices in the international market, the central government is imposing heavy taxes on petroleum products.

"We demand the central government to reduce such taxes on petroleum products," he said.

Shivakumar also appealed to the people to hit the streets and support the agitation by the Congress.

Siddaramaiah said the central government should reduce the taxes on petroleum products by 50 per cent as it is within its limits amidst cheaper international crude oil.

He also alleged that the people are afraid to protest against the price rise because cases will be filed against them.

"Today I declare that the people of the state are afraid of the state government because it will foist cases against them. People are desperately waiting for the elections to teach BJP a lesson," he said.

"Not only BS Yediyurappa, even Narendra Modi will not be able to save their governments," Siddaramaiah said.

On day one of the monsoon session, the Congress had staged a bullock cart rally inside Vidhana Soudha on the same issue.

Later in the day, Chief Minister and Finance Minister Basavaraj Bommai is expected to give reply on fuel price debate.