Chandrababu Naidu criticizes Central Government over inflation, petrol price hike

Hyderabad, Jan 22(ANI): Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday criticized the Central Government over rising inflation and petrol price hike.

"After paying taxes, also income tax and everything they are getting huge profits. This government wants to loot the common man," Naidu said in Hyderabad.

"What they are doing, we totally condemn the attitude of Government of India and also the state government. We will fight it out till the time they will reduce the rates," he added.

Naidu also said that Central Government had earlier promised to control the prices of the essential commodities, but instead of that they have increased the price of all the essential commodities such as food and petrol.

"From the last six months this government including congress government, all rates have increased. Everybody is feeling even the seller is also feeling the pinch because no body is purchasing because of the increased rates,"

"I have never seen these types of rates in the history. UPA (United Progressive Alliance) and Congress government had promised during 2004, they will reduce the rate and will control the rates of essential commodities and also that they would reduce the fuel rates especially the petrol and diesel rates. On the contrary they are increasing rates continuously for 19th time recently," he added.

India is beset by rising food and fuel prices, and the Central Government has drawn flak for failing to check inflation.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI), India's main inflation gauge, rose to annual 8.43 percent in December, after a rise of 7.48 percent in November.

India's fuel inflation rose to 11.19 percent in December from 10.3 percent in November.

Food makes up about 14 percent of the wholesale price index, while fuel contributes to about 15 percent.

Vegetable prices were up 3.84 percent week-on-week and have risen around 71 percent year-on-year. Onions were up nearly 2 percent on the week and 71 percent on an annual basis. (ANI)