Political parties criticise fuel price hike, demand rollback

New Delhi: Politicians across the board have criticised the recent hike in fuel prices. Key UPA ally DMK on Saturday condemned the petrol price hike and demanded that government retain its control on pricing of petroleum products besides seeking a change in pricing policy.

Party chief M Karunanidhi said the issue had become similar to that of attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen allegedly by Sri Lankan navy with political leaders issuing statements expressing concern during such incidents whereas "it seems neither Indian government nor Sri Lankan government are bothered" even as there was no end to the attacks. "Petrol hike similar to attack on Tamil Nadu fishermen. It has become routine for leaders to issue statements on both matters but the centre is not bothered," Karunanidhi said.

Karunanidhi said every time petrol prices are revised, the rates of essential commodities automatically go up which affect the poorer sections of society whom, he said, had little purchasing power. Due changes should also be made in the pricing policy considering social welfare, he said while demanding a rollback of Friday's hike of Rs 1.50 per litre on petrol and 45 paise on diesel.

Meanwhile, former petroleum minister and BJP leader Ram Naik blamed "instability" in fuel prices on constant change of ministers in the ministry and said the party would take to the streets to protest the petroleum price hike.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) too has criticsied the diesel-petrol hike and demanded a rollback. "We are opposing this diesel-petrol price hike and trying to put pressure on the Indian govt to rollback," West Bengal Minister for Public Health Engineering and TMC leader Subrata Mukherjee said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has also sought a change in the pricing mechanism, calling for a more domestic-oriented policy.

Slamming the hike in fuel prices, Jayalalithaa had on Friday said the move amounted to betraying the middle and lower classes and demanded that Centre withdraw its order allowing oil firms to fix prices and also rollback the latest hike.

With Additional Inputs From PTI