UPA allies, Oppn parties seek rollback of diesel price hike

[1]

Making a strong pitch for immediate rollback of hike in diesel price, UPA allies and opposition parties have threatened to take to the streets with Samajwadi Party saying it will 'not hesitate to take stern steps'.

While the Congress party termed the government's decision as one 'forced' upon it due to rise in international crude oil prices, a Congress Chief Minister demanded a partial rollback.

Terming the step as 'undemocratic', Samajwadi Party general secretary Naresh Agarwal, whose party is supporting the UPA government from outside, said his party "has never and will never support this government on the issue of price rise. If need be we will not hesitate to take any kind of stern steps."

He said, "We will oppose this hike and take to the streets." UPA ally and Trinamool Congress has opposed the diesel price increase and curb on purchase of subsidised cooking gas cylinders and its chief Mamata Banerjee is set to lead a street rally in Kolkata on Saturday demanding their rollback.

DMK, another UPA ally, has termed the price hike as 'very high' and unexpected and sought a rollback.

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, who party supports the UPA, said that the government's decision was 'unfortunate' and sought its reconsideration while BSP chief Mayawati demanded immediate rollback of the 'anti-people decision'.

Describing the move as a cruel joke and 'mortal blow' on the common man and farmers, BJP has accused the government of conspiring with petrol 'mafia' and said it will not allow the hike and take to the streets instead.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar flayed the Centre for steep hike and restricting the annual supply of LPG cylinders and said that the latter has inflicted a 'cruel joke' on the people who are reeling under the price rise and inflation.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who heads Congress-led UDF government, said, "If it is difficult to completely rollback the increase, the Centre should at least reduce the hike."

The government on Thursday hiked diesel price by Rs 5.63 per litre and capped supply of subsidised LPG to 6 cylinders per household in a year.