NEW DELHI: The Opposition slammed the government after State-owned oil companies announced a Rs. 3 a litre hike in petrol price, effective midnight on Thursday.Petrol will now cost Rs.70.64 in Chennai, Rs. 66.84 in the national capital, Rs. 71.76 in Mumbai and Rs. 71.15 in Kolkata. Prices of diesel and cooking fuels, that are still controlled by the government unlike gasoline, were left untouched. The latest hike of Rs. 3.14 per litre—the 10th time since June 2010—comes over and above a steep upward revision of Rs. 5 a litre on May 15 this year. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa strongly condemned the hike. “Instead of taking firm steps to contain price rise (of commodities), the Centre has hiked the petrol price. This is highly condemnable,” she said. On behalf of the BJP, spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said, “BJP condemns this hike. We demand a rollback as this measure is against the common man. The UPA allies should also oppose this hike.” CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat said, “The repeated increase in petrol prices, including the latest today, shows how callous the UPA government has become. The current inflation rate has nearly touched double digit. At such a time, this hike will only add to the burden of the people.”
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