The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Saturday termed the decision to increase the price of petrol as a "cruel blow" and said the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was riding roughshod over the interests of the people.
In a statement, the party politburo said the
decision to hike prices was a cruel blow and makes mockery of all the assurances given by the government to reduce price rise.
"The decision to increase the price of petrol by Rs. 2.52 per litre shows how the UPA government is riding roughshod over the interests of the people. Just a few weeks ago the price of petrol was hiked by Rs. 2.96 per litre. By this hike, the price has gone up by over Rs. 5.50 per litre," the statement said.
It said that the party will launch protests against the "callous hike".
"This cruel blow makes a mockery of all the assurances of the government to take steps to curb price rise. The people of this country will not take such burdens on them quietly," the statement said.
Sources said that state oil companies will raise price of petrol between Rs. 2.50-2.54 per litre from Saturday midnight.