UPA allies demand reduction in Petrol price hike

New Delhi, Sept 17: UPA allies DMK, TMC, NCP demanded a rollback in the increase of petrol prices and the Congress core group met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday, Sept 16 to discuss on the same.

Congress General Secretary, Rahul Gandhi met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss the situation which led to protest in Uttar Pradesh. Several Samajwadi Party workers protested against the hike in the petrol price on Friday.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi was not present at the core group meeting but senior party leaders like Pranab Mukherjee, A K Antony, P Chidambaram and Sonia Gandhi's political secretary, Ahmed Patel attended the meeting along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Law Minister Salman Khurshid was also present in the meeting.

Rahul Gandhi was expected to attend the meeting but he refused to attend the meeting.

"The party is concerned very much. A way out should be found and we are sure the government will do it," said Rashid Alvi.

He added, "the hike was "inevitable" as it has been carried out by oil marketing companies on the principle of 'no-profit-no-loss'."

The Bharatiya Janata Party also joined the political outrage over the latest increase in fuel prices and threatened to take to the streets to protest against the Rs 3.14 per litre hike in petrol prices.

OneIndia News