UPA woes double; DMK, TMC protest fuel prices

New Delhi, Feb 27: After the Opposition made its objection to the fuel price hike evident with an unprecedented walkout from the Lok Sabha while the Budget 2010 was being presented, the UPA allies have now turned against the government.

While Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has already registered her opposition to the fuel prices hike as well the Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee's decision to strip off the tax exemption for Railways on goods transportation, UPA's important ally in the south DMK has also called for a rollback of fuel price hike.

Mamata Banerjee, who presented Railway Budget 2010-11 on Wednesday, Feb 24, stormed off to Kolkata miffed with the Union Budget 2010-11 presented on Friday, Feb 26.

"We are not happy with the increase of price of petrol. If they rollback their decision it will be appreciated by us. It affects the poor people," Trinamool Congress MLA Sudip Bandhopadhyay is quoted as saying in media reports.

The party decided to hold a protest rally.

The UPA's woes increased when its ally in Tamil Nadu also did not agree to the fuel price hike.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK chief, M Karunanidhi has reportedly written letters to the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee demanding a rollback of fuel price hike as it would have a 'cascading effect' on the already soaring food prices.

"You are fully aware that the Centre and the states are grappling with the issue of high food inflation in recent months.

"Any increase in the price of diesel will have a cascading effect on food prices as well as prices of other essential commodities. Therefore, I seek your immediate intervention for a rollback atleast on the price of diesel so as to protect the farmers and the common man," the CM said.

This comes after Karunanidhi applauded Pranab Mukherjee's budget over various factors including the increased allocation for education, revised income tax slabs, and farmer loan sops.

However, it can be recalled that DMK has protested against the fuel price hike several times in the past. In 2009, senior leader of DMK and MP T R Baalu had raised his voice against price rise.

OneIndia News