The hefty hike in diesel price and proposal to bring in controls for LPG cylinder supplies have attracted instant criticism from all over the state, cutting across political considerations.
CPM leader and LDF convenor Vaikom Viswan said that the proposed hike would affect all sectors of life in the state.
‘’All sections will rise in unison to protest against the anti-people stance,’’ he warned. The LDF has announced a dawn-to-dusk hartal in the state on Saturday as a mark of protest.
KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala sent a fax letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking withdrawal of the price hike for diesel and proposed controls for LPG supplies. “A consumer state like Kerala will be the most affected area in the country as a result of this hike. It should be reviewed immediately,’’ Ramesh demanded.
Finance Minister K M Mani also demanded a roll back of the diesel price hike. Considering the fact that the diesel price hike will have a direct bearing on the freight cost and Kerala, which is dependent much on supply of commodities and goods from other states, will be on a receiving end, he said.
CPI state secretary Pannian Raveendran said that the poor people in the state would be the worst affected as aresult of this price hike.
According to BJP former state president P Sreedharan Pillai, the diesel price hike and curbs proposed for LPG supplies were a bolt from the blue for the people and severe agitations would be launched to register protest.