A P CM urges Centre to reduce petrol price hike

Hyderabad, Jun 4 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today expressed serious concern over the hike in prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas as this would hit the common man.

He requested the Centre to reconsider the issue and reduce the hike as far as possible.

He said he would take up the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram when he visits New Delhi soon.

Dr Reddy, who held discussions with officials on the issue during his review meetings at secretariat, said he could understand the unprecedented and heavy burden on the oil companies and the Union government on account of the heavy subsidy.

Dr Reddy said inflation world-wide has caused the rise in prices of some essential commodities. Now, the hike in the prices of petroleum products would hit the common man.

The Chief Minister said increasing the prices of cooking gas to Rs 50, petrol by Rs 5 and diesel by Rs 3 would burden the common man.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said the state government which had introduced the Rs 2-a-kg rice scheme for white card holders, will launch the supply of palm oil and red gram through fair price shops from July 1.

He said the state government will also introduce the market intervention scheme to effectively control the prices of essential commodities, according to an official press release.

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