Though Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has ruled out rolling back fuel prices, the United Progressive Alliance government may “re-adjust” the price of diesel to mollify its allies the DMK and Trinamool Congress.
Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi and Railway Minister Mamata
Banerjee on Saturday appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to intervene in the matter.
The All India Motor Transport Congress has demanded an immediate rollback of the diesel and petrol price hikes and said they would be forced to go on a nationwide strike if this was not done.
Karunanidhi sent a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pressing for a rollback in diesel prices, which were hiked by
Rs. 2.55 per litre in the latest Budget, “to protect farmers and the common man”, because not doing so would have “far-reaching implications.”
Karunanidhi held a meeting with seven Union ministers from the DMK at his residence in Chennai before he sent his
letter.
On her part, Banerjee said, "The hike in the prices of the petroleum products will affect the common man who is already burdened with high prices. Everyone should protest against the price hike. I request the Prime Minister and Soniaji to withdraw the hike.”
As her Trinamool Congress workers staged demonstrations in Kolkata against the hike, she sent a letter to the PM to convey her "unhappiness" over another issue too-- the decision to raise
Rs. 800 crore through service tax from railways.
The All India Motor Transport Congress has demanded an immediate rollback of the diesel and petrol price hikes and said they would be forced to go on a nationwide strike if this was not done.