DMK chief Karunanidhi flays petrol price hike

Key United Progressive Alliance ally Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Saturday condemned the petrol price hike and demanded that the government retain its control on the pricing of petroleum products, besides seeking a change in the pricing policy.

Party chief M Karunanidhi said the issue had become similar to that of attacks on Tamil Nadu fishermen -- allegedly by the Sri Lankan navy -- with political leaders issuing statements expressing concern during such incidents.

"Similarly, despite statements condemning the hikes, prices of petrol and diesel keep increasing," he said.

Karunanidhi said every time petrol prices are revised, the rates of essential commodities automatically go up, which affect the poorer sections of society.

"Oil companies don't seem to consider this social problem. The regular hikes in petrol and diesel are being announced after the government ceded the pricing control to them," he said.

Due changes should also be made in the pricing policy, he said, demanding a rollback of Friday's hike of Rs 1.50 per litre on petrol and 45 paise on diesel.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has also sought a change in the pricing mechanism, calling for a more domestic-oriented policy.

Slamming the hike in fuel prices, Jayalalithaa had on Friday said the move amounted to betraying the middle and lower classes. She demanded that the Centre withdraw its order allowing oil firms to fix prices and also rollback the latest hike.