Roll back of the hike in petrol prices

Many political parties including the BJP and the Left parties and UPA Allies the Trinamool Congress and DMK have demanded a roll back of the hike in petrol prices saying that it would hit the common man hard.

The BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain said in New Delhi that the hike will further increase the hardship of the common man. CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat criticised the government for raising the petrol prices. CPI said in a statement that the reason for the increase does not satisfy anybody.

The Trinamool Congress demanding the roll back in the hike in prices said, their opinion was never sought before implementing the decision. Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Trivedi told newspersons in New Delhi that common man needs relief and not burden.

DMK party spokesman T K S Elangovan said in Chennai that the hike in petrol prices will have a cascading effects and will affect the lower and middle income groups and the poor.

The Congress has expressed concerns over the petrol price hike. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, party spokesman Rashid Alvi said the government must find out a way to reduce common man's miseries.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said, the decision to raise the price was taken by oil marketing firms as petrol has been deregulated.

A meeting of the empowered Group of Ministers headed by Mr. Mukherjee on the subsidy on LPG which was scheduled to be held in New Delhi on Friday was postponed. Official sources said, the meeting was deferred due to non-availability of some members of the Empowered Group. No new date was announced for holding the meeting.

In Jammu and Kashmir, The supporters of various political parties including, the main opposition party in the State PDP and the BJP on Friday held protests in the Jammu city over the increase in petrol prices. The Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party also held demonstrations at different places. The Shiv Sena activists took out a rally on bullock carts, cycles and horse buggies and demanded immediate rollback in the petrol prices.