Petrol Price Hike Reaction

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today announced marginal relief for citizens from runaway fuel prices with excise duty cut of Rs 1.50 and another Re 1 drop by oil marketing companies, taking the cut in fuel prices to Rs 2.50. He blamed rising crude oil prices in the international markets for the rise in fuel prices in India.

DMK chief M Karunanidhi today opposed the rise in fuel prices which came to effect since last night and asked whether the Centre was aware of the chain reaction it would create.

Automobile industry body SIAM asked the government to consider hiking price of diesel to bring parity with petrol as strong reactions continued to pour in against the Rs 7.50 per litre rise in petrol prices.

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 have said.

Wednesday's petrol price hike was denounced by the middle class, with some calling it outrageous. "This is shocking and outrageous and will surely break our backs," said salesman Harish Rawat, who uses a scooter to commute in Delhi. "I have no choice but to leave my scooter at home and travel by bus," Rawat told IANS.

UPA's outside supporter Samajwadi Party today dubbed the steep petrol price hike as a "gift" to the common man from the government on completion of its three years in office and demanded its immediate roll back.

Petrol prices have been hiked by Rs. 6.28 per litre, exclusive of taxes, effective midnight. This is the steepest hike ever for petrol in India, and prompted calls for a rollback from leaders who are key to the government's survival - Mamata Banerjee, M Karunanidhi and Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today announced marginal relief for citizens from runaway fuel prices with excise duty cut of Rs 1.50 and another Re 1 drop by oil marketing companies, taking the cut in fuel prices to Rs 2.50. He blamed rising crude oil prices in the international markets for the rise in fuel prices in India.

DMK chief M Karunanidhi today opposed the rise in fuel prices which came to effect since last night and asked whether the Centre was aware of the chain reaction it would create.

Automobile industry body SIAM asked the government to consider hiking price of diesel to bring parity with petrol as strong reactions continued to pour in against the Rs 7.50 per litre rise in petrol prices.

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 have said.

Wednesday's petrol price hike was denounced by the middle class, with some calling it outrageous. "This is shocking and outrageous and will surely break our backs," said salesman Harish Rawat, who uses a scooter to commute in Delhi. "I have no choice but to leave my scooter at home and travel by bus," Rawat told IANS.

UPA's outside supporter Samajwadi Party today dubbed the steep petrol price hike as a "gift" to the common man from the government on completion of its three years in office and demanded its immediate roll back.

Petrol prices have been hiked by Rs. 6.28 per litre, exclusive of taxes, effective midnight. This is the steepest hike ever for petrol in India, and prompted calls for a rollback from leaders who are key to the government's survival - Mamata Banerjee, M Karunanidhi and Mulayam Singh Yadav.