Mamata terms diesel deregulation 'unfortunate'

"Yet another anti-people decision has been taken by the UPA government", she said.

"Diesel prices have been deregulated suddenly. Immediately, there has been an increase of diesel prices by about 40-50 paise per litre, which will severely affect common people and prices of essential commodities," Banerjee wrote on social networking site Facebook.

She said the hike was affecting the State Transport Undertakings by creating an additional liability of Rs.40 crore on them.

"I have also come to know that the decision has been conveyed through a secret communication. What is secret about price rise, which affects the common people? This is nothing but cheating," the Trinamool Congress chief said.

"We demand an immediate rollback of the price hike in the interest of the common people," she said.

A day after the government allowed state-run companies to raise diesel prices periodically, the price of diesel was Friday hiked by 45 paise per litre, excluding state levies, whereas the price of petrol was reduced by 25 paise per litre.