Chennai:
Slamming the Centre for its "wrong (fuel) pricing policy", Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Monday demanded that the hike of 70 paise per litre of petrol be rolled back.
She also demanded that the price be restored to the rate prevailing prior to May 22 when it was hiked by Rs 7.50.
"At a time when people expect the government to address inflation and price rise besides falling Indian rupee, it is regrettable that it adopts a contradictory approach. This is an unjust hike burdening the poor and middle-class," she said in a statement in Chennai.
She said it was "condemnable" that the government had hiked the price citing international crude rates and depreciating Indian rupee.
"One can never accept Centre's justification for hiking prices citing crude oil rates. Central government's wrong pricing policy is the reason for the increase.
"Not only should the latest hike be rolled back but the prices be restored to the rates prevailing prior to May 22 when it effected Rs 7.50 hike," Ms Jayalalithaa added.