Jaya asks Centre to withdraw diesel hike

Jayalalithaa said people are agitated over fuel price hike and cautioned they are prepared to vote out the UPA government at the Centre

Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa has asked the Centre to roll back diesel price hike as it would further increase the prices of essential commodities, affecting the common people.

The reaction comes after the recent 50 paise hike in diesel prices announced by the oil marketing companies. Jayalalithaa cautioned, “people are agitated over the fuel price hike, and are prepared to vote out the UPA government at the Centre in the coming general elections”. She reiterated her earlier stand that the Centre should withdraw the powers vested with oil companies to regulate fuel prices.

According to her, the Tamil Nadu government did not resort to any hike in bus fares post the fuel price hike, and has taken over the entire financial burden by allocating additional funds to the transport corporation. Last year, the state government granted Rs 200 crore to the state transport corporation and this year it was Rs 500 crore, she said.

Condemning the hike in diesel price, the State Lorry Owners Federation said around 40 per cent fleet had been off the roads due to poor demand against the rise in diesel prices, and added, diesel price went up by Rs 12.87 a litre in the last one year. “In this scenario it is very difficult to run vehicles, and it would be better if the government withdraws the hike or takes the over the fleet,” said a federation’s spokesperson.