Hyderabad, January 17: Telugu Desam president and leader of the opposition in the Assembly N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday opposed the petrol price hike, the 19th during the six-year rule of the United Progressive Alliance.
In a statement here Naidu termed the price hike as anti-people and demanded that the Centre roll back the hike and the state reduce the taxes on petroleum products.
“At a time when the food inflation has touched 18.32 per cent and people are finding it difficult to purchase even the essential commodities the UPA government’ action of increasing the petrol prices is deplorable. Instead of controlling the ever-increasing prices, the Centre has burdened the people once again,’’ Naidu said and remarked that it was the 19th time that petrol and diesel prices were increased in the last six years of UPA rule.
Naidu alleged that after the Centre had deregulated the petrol prices, the oil companies were increasing the prices indiscriminately. After the deregulation seven months ago the petrol prices were raised six times, he said.
“When the crude oil price was $145 the petrol prices were not so high. Now the crude oil price per barrel in the international market is just $ 100 but the petrol prices here are higher than in the past,’’ he observed and criticised the state government for imposing 33 per cent tax on petrol and diesel sales.
“Though there are several income generation sources available with the central government, the UPA has preferred to burden the poor. The increase in petrol prices will have a cascading effect on people who have been suffering from non-payment of minimum wages, soaring prices and lack of remunerative prices for farm produce,’’ Naidu added.
Meanwhile, Praja Rajyam president K Chiranjeevi said that the “common man’s government’’ was hoodwinking the people by increasing petrol prices during the festival season.
The petrol price was increased by Rs 3 a month back and by another Rs 3 now, and it would have a cascading effect on people,’’ Chiranjeevi said and demanded a roll-back of the hike.
The state, for its part, should reduce the 33 per cent sales tax, which was the highest in any state, he said.
–Agencies