Rail fare hike will hurt common man: Jayalalithaa

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today criticised the rail fare hike saying it would hurt the common man and demanded its rollback.

As people were already reeling under high inflation and hike in kerosene, petrol, diesel and LPG prices, the hike in rail fare would amount to rubbing salt into the wound, she said in a statement here.

"Disregarding the public opinion, the Centre continuously taking anti-people steps is regrettable," she said, adding experts and people have suggested measures like checking inflation, increasing employment and bringing black money among others for the progress of the country.

She said the rail fare hike would be a "big burden on the poor and hurt the common man." "I demand that the Congress-led UPA, in which DMK is an ally, should roll back the increase," she said.