Describing as an eyewash the Rs 3.13 cut in the price of petrol, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Friday urged the Congress-led UPA government to completely roll back the hike effected on May 24 keeping in view the sharp decline in international crude prices.
In a statement here, Jayalalithaa said it was regrettable that the petrol price had not even been brought to the rates that prevailed before the steepest-ever hike of Rs 7.50 was effected.
“Considering the present crude prices, the Centre must have not only fully rolled back the hike came into force on May 24, but also should have gone in for even more (price) cuts,” she noted.
Accusing the Centre for not showing the same enthusiasm in reducing the petrol prices (during a fall in crude prices) that it exhibited during hiking the prices (whenever the crude prices went up), she said that the recent cut of `3.13 was an eyewash and unacceptable. She urged the Centre to at least revert to the prices that prevailed before the hike was notified. The oil marketing companies raised the petrol prices by `7.50 across the country effective the midnight of 23 May 2012.
In Chennai, the prices jumped to Rs 77.53 from 69.55. Subsequently, TN, like other parts of India witnessed strong protests by all political parties.