Left calls for TN bandh against petrol price hike

Announcing this, CPI national secretary D Raja said the hike was "unjustified". The hike would have a casacading effect on the prices of essential commodities, which had already gone up by manifold and would further push up the inflation rate, which had already touched eight per cent, Raja said.    

Accusing the UPA government of not taking any steps to contain inflation and price rise, he said it was regrettable that the Centre had sought to hike the petroleum prices, without considering alternative proposals. It should have compelled the private oil refineries to sell their products in the domestic market instead of exporting, he said.