Leaders criticise fuel price hike

The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) on Sunday slammed the Centre for the hike in prices of petrol and diesel saying, it was condemnable as it would severely affect the poor and the middle class people. 

In a statement here, PMK Founder Dr S Ramadoss said without passing on the full benefits to the common man when the prices of crude oil comes down in international market, the oil companies and central government was posing additional burden on the people by increasing the fuel prices when the crude oil price goes up. 

''When the crude prices came down in the first half of April, the petrol and diesel prices were only reduced by 74 paise and Rs 1.33 respectively. But in the second half, when the crude oil prices increased to the same level, hiking the fuel prices by two-fold is gross injustice,” he added. ''In no way it can be justified'', Dr Ramadoss said, adding, the Centre itself could have bear this hike on its own without burdening the people. 

Stating that the present hike would further lead to increase in freight rates and transport charges, he said it would also lead to increase in prices of essential commodities, including milk and vegetables, further compounding the woes of the lower and the middle class. ''Realising this, the Centre should take steps to immediately roll back the hike, failing which the people will teach them a lesson in the upcoming assembly elections'', he added. 

TNCC chief EVKS Elangovan said, “While one barrel of crude oil is sold for 39 dollars, petrol and diesel should be sold for Rs 30 and Rs 20 a litre respectively. But in Chennai petrol was being sold at Rs 61.64 and diesel at Rs 51.78 which   added misery of the already inflation battered public. The BJP government adjusted the price to mop up financial resources to fill the gaps in current account and fiscal deficits. 

The Congress government provided a subsidy of Rs 1.37 lakh crore to ease the burden of consumers, he noted. The government should find a stable mechanism instead of the present system of letting oil corporations decide the prices along with scrapping the excise duty, TMC president G K Vasan said.