DMK flays fuel price hike

Chennai, June 26: DMK, a key partner of ruling UPA, today (Jun 26) criticised the hike in fuel prices, saying it would badly hit the middle class and poor and urged the Centre to make efforts to permanently solve the issue.

"Whenever this issue arises, the Centre tries to justify the fuel price hike," DMK President M Karunanidhi said in his first reaction to the increase in prices of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas, which has been condemned by various political parties.

The Centre should not rest by merely defending the hike "on some excuse" every time the issue arises, but treat it as its utmost duty to completely solve it as the hike affects the public, especially middle class and people living below poverty line, he said in a statement.

Karunanidhi also asked the Tamil Nadu Government to reduce sales tax on fuel prices emulating West Bengal government and also as done by his government in the past.

When DMK was in power, sales tax on petroleum products was reduced twice and subsidy for LPG was also provided.

"West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's announcement reducing LPG price by Rs 16 could be a guiding force for other governments also. Therefore, the Tamil Nadu Government should also reduce sales tax on petroleum products", he said.

The Centre on Friday increased diesel price by Rs three per litre, domestic LPG by Rs 50 per cylinder and kerosene by Rs two per litre.

PTI