Jayalalithaa demands immediate rollback in hike in petrol, diesel price

Slamming the latest hike in prices of petrol and diesel, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Friday demanded their immediate rollback, warning that people will show their anger against Congress-led UPA in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

The central government will take the 'credit' for being the one that had frequently hiked fuel prices in independent India, she said in a statement.

Pointing out that the Centre hiked prices of petrol by 75 paise and diesel by 50 Paise, she said this will affect all sections of society and there will be a cascading effect on the economy.

Reiterating her demand for revising fuel pricing policy, she also urged the Centre to identify more domestic resources.

This was the fifth hike in fuel prices within a month, including increasing rate of non-subsidised LPG cylinder by Rs 220, and it was a "regressive" step in terms of economic development, she said.

"I insist that the Centre should rollback the hike since people are already suffering. If it (centre) remains as if it is deaf, people will certainly express their anger in the coming Lok Sabha elections," she said.

She also demanded that government take over control of fuel pricing from oil marketing companies.