Jaya terms fuel price hike ''unacceptable'', demands rollback

Chennai, Jun 25: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa described fuel price hike as "unacceptable" and demanded its immediate rollback.

"The price of LPG, which is being used by all strata of people has been increased by Rs 50. People cannot tolerate this. Further, the price of kerosene has also been increased by Rs 2. This will severely affect the poor people as they are the main consumers of kerosene," Jayalalithaa said in a statement .

On the increase in diesel price by Rs 3 a litre, she said it would have a cascading effect on the prices of most commodities, including vegetables, as they are transported by road.

She said the hike in diesel price would result in increase in transport fare which ultimately would "severely affect the poor and the the downtrodden."

"When there is an overall rise in prices, this hike in fuel prices would severely affect the people. I, therefore, would like to insist that the Centre should immediately roll back the hike in prices of diesel, kerosene and LPG," she said.

The Chief Minister said that with the government allowing oil companies to revise fuel prices themselves, the firms have been "now and then" increasing the price of petrol, which she said was affecting motorists and car owners, predominantly from the middle class. However, the hike in diesel prices would affect the poor and downdrodden, she said.

PTI