TDP to hold dharna against petrol price hike on Jan 22

Hyderabad, Jan 17 (PTI)The Telugu Desam Party wouldorganise dharnas in Andhra Pradesh on January 22 to protestagainst petrol price hike effected by the centre.

"The government increased the price of petrol by Rs 3although the oil companies are making profits. The price ofpetrol has shot up by Rs 11 in the last seven months," TDPpresident N Chandrababu Naidu pointed out.

In all, prices of petroleum products were hiked 19 timesin the last six years, leaving the people hapless, he said.

Chandrababu held a meeting with senior leaders of hisparty at the NTR Bhavan here this afternoon to discuss thepetro price issue.

"The hike in price of petrol will lead to hike in pricesof other commodities as well as transportation," he said.

The Andhra Pradesh government was imposing 33 per centon petrol as value-added tax, which was higher compared toother states. In neighbouring Odisha it was only 18 per cent,he pointed out.

He also found fault with the state government forcollecting four per cent VAT on kerosene and liquefiedpetroleum gas, putting extra burden on common people. No otherstate was doing so, Chandrababu said.

The TDP chief demanded that the state government reducethe tax on petrol and other fuels immediately to providerelief to people.