Oppn to continue protests against fuel price hike

Hyderabad, June 10 (UNI) While the ruling Congress welcomed the Andhra Pradesh Government's decision to reduce the tax on petrol and diesel, the opposition parties dubbed it as too meagre and decided to continue their agitation to press for the roll back in the fuel prices hike.

Talking to UNI, BJP National Secretary B Datattreya said the party would continue its stir demanding the Centre reduce excise duty on petroleum products to provide relief to the people reeling under allround price rise.

The Centre was shirking its responsibility and passing on the buck to states, he alleged adding that the reduction announced by the Andhra Pradesh Government was ''negligible''.

Dismissing as ''eye wash'' the ''nominal'' reduction in sales tax on fuel by the Congress Government, TDP Spokesman and General Secretary K Srihari said the party would continue its stir till the Centre rolled back the hike.

However, ruling State Congress Spokesman P Venkata Rao justifying the hike by the Centre under ''inevitable'' circumstances, thanked the Rajasekhara Reddy Government for announcing reduction in sales tax.

Not satisified with the state government's reduction CPI(M) State Secretary B V Raghavulu and CPI State Secretary K Narayana said the left parties would go ahead with their protest on June 13.

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