Chennai:
A 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.
In a statement issued by the party headquarters, the DMK points out that the people of the State are already reeling under a recent bus fare hike as well as an increase in the price of milk and electricity tariff. The timing of this price hike - the steepest in a decade, it feels, will add to the misery of the people.
The DMK Ministers were not present at the cabinet meeting in the capital on Thursday.
When quizzed by the media on Wednesday night, soon after the news of the hike came, DMK Chief M Karunanidhi had said his "party MPs would take up the issue with the Centre and push for a rollback". The 88 year old patriarch however defended the UPA saying "it is not possible for the Union Govt to get the consent of all allies for decisions taken in certain situations."
The DMK has 18 MPs in the Lok sabha and 7 in the Rajya Sabha. With Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi and former Telecom Minister A Raja accused in the 2G scam and out on bail, the party, many believe, is in no position to antagonise the Centre.
Demanding an immediate rollback, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had termed the petrol hike "an anniversary gift of the UPA to the common man." In a letter to the Prime Minister on Friday, the AIADMK Chief has asked for more allocation of kerosene for Tamil Nadu.