Jaya demands rollback of petrol price hike

Chennai, Jan 17 (PTI) AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa todaydemanded immediate rollback of the petrol price hike, sayingit would adversely affect the poor.

"If the Centre is really concerned about the citizens, itshould have taken steps to get back money deposited in foreignbanks by Indians. If it was done, there would not have beenany need to increase the prices of petroleum products," shesaid in a statement.

Claiming that the Centre had details of bank deposits ofover 250 Indians with German banks, she said one could notunderstand why the government did not release the figures. Thesuspicion was whether those allegedly involved in the 2Gspectrum scam would have deposited black money in these banks,she said.

The petrol price hike would only pave the way for anincrease in price of essential commodities, which had alreadygone up, she said, adding people now feared that the Centrewould also accept the request of oil companies to raise pricesof diesel and LPG.

MDMK leader Vaiko has also demanded an immediatewithdrawal of the petrol price hike.