Govt conspiring with petrol 'mafia': BJP on diesel price hike

"This is a cruel joke on the common man in the country. It has hit farmers hard during the peak paddy sowing season. We will not allow this hike. We will not allow this government to loot the common man like this," BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.

"The way this government is increasing prices of petrol, diesel and LPG despite a reduction in international crude prices, it is a clear-cut case of a conspiracy with the petroleum mafia," Naqvi said.

BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said the hike will have a cascading effect on prices and will contribute further to inflation.

"It is a mortal blow of Rs 5 increase in diesel price and will cause hardship. Had it been raised in small amounts it would not have been that objectionable or difficult. Diesel increase will have a cascading effect on the economy as a whole. Prices are already not under control, so this is going to contribute to overall inflation and create mayhem in the economy," Sinha said.

Another BJP leader Ananth Kumar said, "we strongly protest against the steep hike and condemn it. There is a fire against corruption raging across the country and government has poured dieselover it. It will have a cascading effect on inflation and price rise. It will hit the common man, farmers and the labourers."

He said the cap clamped on the number of cylinders to be made available to a family every year is highly condemnable. (MORE)