13 years ago
"The DMK will not hesitate to walk out of the UPA to protest anti-people policies," said Mr Karunanidhi.
The chief of the DMK, M Karunanidhi, has warned the UPA to reverse the price hike in petrol announced last week. "Don't push us further," warned Mr Karunanidhi.
The DMK is holding petrol protests across the state, a day after the AIADMK, the ruling party, staged demonstrations to protest the "unprecedented" hike in petrol price and sought its immediate rollback.
Today's protests by the DMK is the second such by a UPA ally after the Trinamool Congress, led by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, took to the streets of Kolkata on Saturday in protest against the rise in petrol prices that were effected last Wednesday midnight. The allies, both big partners of the Congress-led coalition at the Centre, have been demanding a rollback ever since the hike was announced.
Fuel scarcity eases in Chennai Chennai has seen some chaotic moments this week as petrol pumps in the city ran dry. Chief Minister Ms Jayalalithaa has announced that three ships carrying 67,000 kilolitres of petrol and diesel have arrived in Chennai; 2000 kilolitres of diesel have come in by road from Bangalore. The scramble at petrol pumps has eased. Read more...
Covering a distance of five kilometres, Ms Banerjee and the protesters have reached Hazra from Jadavpur.
Mamata Banerjee seen marching down the streets of Kolkata with thousands of supporters
As a mark of her protest against the steep rise in petrol prices, Trinamool Congress Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has begun her march from Jadavpur to Hazra in Kolkata.
'Why doesn't Mamata follow Goa model on petrol?' asks Congress MPReacting to Ms Banerjee's call for a protest march against the petrol price hike, an angry Congress MP from Bengal, Adhir Chowdhary, dared her to quit the coalition.
UPA ally Mamata Banerjee will be on the roads of Kolkata this evening in protest against the petrol price hike announced on Wednesday.
The West Bengal Chief Minister will march from Jadavpur to Hazra in south Kolkata.
The West Bengal Chief Minister will march from Jadavpur to Hazra in south Kolkata.
No time good for increasing prices, but no instant solutions: Jaipal ReddyTwo days after the massive petrol price hike, Union Oil Minister Jaipal Reddy explains the government's decision.
We cannot run the country based on popular sentiments, says Jaipal Reddy.
Jaipal Reddy on Petrol Price Hike
The logic of increasing price diesel, LPG and kerosene is unassailable, but politics will not allow it. The Congress party , to which I belong is a political party. Like all political parties, who wants to advocate unpopular causes, even if they are worthy ones.
The logic of increasing price diesel, LPG and kerosene is unassailable, but politics will not allow it. The Congress party , to which I belong is a political party. Like all political parties, who wants to advocate unpopular causes, even if they are worthy ones.
Highlights: Oil Minister Jaipal Reddy on petrol price hike
No time is a good time for increase in prices. The oil companies felt the increase was necessary, there was no alternative.
No time is a good time for increase in prices. The oil companies felt the increase was necessary, there was no alternative.
- Govt of India and State Governments should together agree on some formula - these are all long term measures
- I have been speaking to the Finance Minister; we have both decided to consult the Chief Ministers too
- All parties in the country need to work together; easy to use rhetoric...
Oil Minister Jaipal Reddy on petrol price hike
- Oil scenario in India faces a double disaster - devaluation of the rupee and rise in crude prices
- On is aware of the problems for Indian consumer by these 2 massive global developments
- Need for people to appreciate that this situation is not in our control
Anti-petrol hike protest: Samajwadi Party announces UP bandh on 31st May
Petrol prike hike: Mamata to march on Kolkata's streets in protestIn what is likely to be a quaint sight, the West Bengal Chief Minister will march from Jadavpur to Hazra in south Kolkata. Her close aid and Union Railway Minister Mukul Roy did his bit yesterday, participating in a Trinamool Congress protest in the city.
Congress core group to meet today to discuss petrol price hikeA core group of Congress leaders will meet this evening to discuss the steep petrol price hike of Rs 6.28 plus taxes effected on Wednesday and that has people and political parties enraged. Right now the Prime Minister is meeting Oil Minister Jaipal Reddy and officials from key economic ministries.
Petrol price hike: Government ally DMK to hold protest in Tamil NaduA day after the expression of public anger over the steepest petrol price hike in a decade, the DMK, an ally of the UPA at the Centre, has announced "peaceful protest" in front of collector's offices across Tamil Nadu on May 30.
Oil firms hint at a cut in petrol prices next month
State-owned oil companies today indicated that rates may be cut at the next revision cycle due early next month on account of softening in global oil prices.
State-owned oil companies today indicated that rates may be cut at the next revision cycle due early next month on account of softening in global oil prices.
Highlights of the IOC presser;
We had exhausted all our options
Hike wasn't an easy decision
Upto May 23, we had already lost Rs 1056 crore and the industry had lost approximately Rs 2400 crore in 50 odd days this year.
Everyday we were losing Rs 47-50 crore on petrol alone. It is a free product for which oil companies have to decide prices. We are not entitled to any support from consolidated funds of India. Choices were very narrow.
We realise the hike is a big burden; gives us no pleasure to burden our consumers
In Nov-Dec last year, when prices came down we passed on the benefit to the consumer. We are committed to doing that in future.
Increased oil prices do not benefit us. It is in our interest too that the prices cool down. Read more...
We had exhausted all our options
Hike wasn't an easy decision
Upto May 23, we had already lost Rs 1056 crore and the industry had lost approximately Rs 2400 crore in 50 odd days this year.
Everyday we were losing Rs 47-50 crore on petrol alone. It is a free product for which oil companies have to decide prices. We are not entitled to any support from consolidated funds of India. Choices were very narrow.
We realise the hike is a big burden; gives us no pleasure to burden our consumers
In Nov-Dec last year, when prices came down we passed on the benefit to the consumer. We are committed to doing that in future.
Increased oil prices do not benefit us. It is in our interest too that the prices cool down. Read more...
After widespread protests and political demands for a withdrawal of the huge petrol price hike of Rs. 6.28 plus local taxes effected last night, there is now talk that the government might consider a partial rollback.
Sources said opposition parties and allies apart, even leaders of the Congress have said they did not know about the price rise.
Manish Tiwari addresses media on petrol price hike;
Responsibility for fixing price lies with oil marketing companies.
There is volatility in international market, pressure on rupee.
Notwithstanding all these concerns, we are extremely sensitive as a political party to the burden it puts on common man whom we essentially represent.
Within parameters of any volatile economic situation, we would hope that govt would try and find a way whereby burden could be mitigated to some extent.
Some state governments have already taken lead to rationalize state taxes. Hope others will also step up. Within confines of a difficult and volatile economic situation, hope govt will find a way to give relief to common man.
Responsibility for fixing price lies with oil marketing companies.
There is volatility in international market, pressure on rupee.
Notwithstanding all these concerns, we are extremely sensitive as a political party to the burden it puts on common man whom we essentially represent.
Within parameters of any volatile economic situation, we would hope that govt would try and find a way whereby burden could be mitigated to some extent.
Some state governments have already taken lead to rationalize state taxes. Hope others will also step up. Within confines of a difficult and volatile economic situation, hope govt will find a way to give relief to common man.
Kerala state govt rolls back 1.63% VAT on petrol
UPDATE: Partial rollback on the cards. Sources tell NDTV rollback of Rs 2 likely in petrol price hike announced.
Petrol price hike: Opposition fumes, allies demand rollbackAt midnight on Wednesday petrol prices went up by a huge Rs 6.28 plus local taxes - the biggest hike in 10 years. The Opposition is threatening to launch a big agitation and the government's own allies and friends are bringing pressure on it to roll back the hike amid fears that LPG and diesel prices will go up next. Will the government effect a partial rollback?
The Congress government in Uttarakhand, meanwhile, announced that it was removing 25% VAT on petrol.
Angry people slammed the move, Opposition threatened to launch big agitationThe single largest hike in petrol prices - of Rs. 6.28 per litre, exclusive of taxes - has led to a nationwide outrage with the common man and the government's allies fuming alike over the issue. The new prices came into effect from midnight.
Petrol hike, political storm: Who said whatPranab Mukherjee, Finance Minister: "The decision has been taken. Petrol is a deregulated commodity."Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal and chief of Trinamool Congress: "It is unjust and unilateral. It was done without our knowledge...Parliament was in session till yesterday. Why was this not brought up and discussed in Parliament?"
Jayalalithaa condemns petrol price hike, demands rollbackStrongly condemning the steep hike in petrol price, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today demanded its immediate rollback, warning that otherwise people's agony would spell the doom for the 'anti-people' UPA government soon.
It's a beautiful gift by the UPA on completing 3 years: BJP on petrol price hikeThe BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad has demanded a rollback, accusing the Congress-led UPA government of burdening the common man through its "mismanagement of the economy".
DMK says government should reconsider the hike and reduce it. "It is unfortunate, it will affect the salaried class, the common man," said the party's TR Baalu.
DMK chief M Karunanidhi says his MPs would talk to the Prime Minister to reconsider the decision.
DMK chief M Karunanidhi says his MPs would talk to the Prime Minister to reconsider the decision.
"Decision taken, petrol a deregulated commodity," says Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee
Petrol prices go up by Rs 6.28 plus taxes, Mamata says she was not consultedPetrol will cost Rs 7.50 more per litre in Delhi starting at midnight. This is the steepest petrol price hike ever, according to the Press Trust of India. Nobody asked us, said Mamata Banerjee, a senior partner in the UPA coalition at the centre. This is due to mismanagement, she added.
Petrol prices over the years
Here is how petrol prices have fared in the metro cities over the last 1 year.
Here is how petrol prices have fared in the metro cities over the last 1 year.
The BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain said the Congress would be taught a lesson in the elections and warned UPA allies that they would face collateral damage for being seen supporting the Congress. He accused the UPA of celebrating three years in power yesterday when the economy was reeling. "The government had taken this step emboldened by the presence of new allies," he said, alluding to leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party and Lalu Yadav of the RJD sharing stage with the UPA.
India deregulated petrol prices in June 2010 but continues to subsidise kerosene, petrol and cooking gas to protect the poor from the impact of any inflation pressures
In the second half of 2011, oil companies began reflecting market realit ies more closely and raised petro prices but were stopped from end-November on the request of the government - their majority shareholder - ahead of elections in some states. Petrol prices were last revised on December 1.
In the second half of 2011, oil companies began reflecting market realit ies more closely and raised petro prices but were stopped from end-November on the request of the government - their majority shareholder - ahead of elections in some states. Petrol prices were last revised on December 1.
This rise comes even as Oil Minister Jaipal Reddy is visiting Turkmenistan.
Petrol in Delhi currently costs Rs 65.64 a litre and after the increase it will be priced at Rs 73.14 per litre.
"This is a striking blow UPA has given on completion of its third year in office...this is due entirely to mismanagement, " said the BJP's Nirmala Sitharaman.
State-run oil companies have been losing Rs. 8000 crores per year because they were being forced to sell petrol at subsidized rates
Petrol prices to go up by Rs 7.50 per litreIn a statement released Wednesday evening, the state-run Indian Oil Corporation said it was hiking petrol prices by Rs6.28 a litre, exclusive of sales/value-added taxes. Sales and VAT taxes differ from state to state, and range between 94 paise and Rs 2.07 a litre.
