Satirist Jaspal Bhatti Thursday rode on horseback to protest the latest fuel price hike.

Demanding that the government set up separate horse lanes on the lines of the failed bus rapid transport (BRT) lanes in New Delhi and Pune, Bhatti said people should now patronise horses and donkeys as high prices had put fuel beyond their reach.

He also sought special training for traffic policemen to control horses and donkeys on the roads.

And to drive home the point of expensive gas cylinders, Bhatti's wife Savita Bhatti and a couple of other ladies pedalled a 'Murli Mobile Tandoor' on a rickshaw. The 'tandoor' (earthen oven) is named after Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, who announced the fuel price hike Wednesday.

"We have full sympathy with the government, which had no other option but to increase the petrol, diesel and LPG prices. But before hiking the gas prices the petroleum ministry could have launched the 'Murli Mobile Tandoors' to help people make rotis in a door-to-door service, " Bhatti said.

Savita Bhatti and other ladies took the tandoor door to door in a sector here. Bhatti said this was done to help the poor people, who did not know how they would afford costlier cooking gas.

Bhatti also demanded that horse maintenance allowance be given to government officers and employees for using horses.

"Horses are eco-friendly also, " he added.