Strongly condemning the latest hike in petrol prices, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Sunday, blamed it on the Congress-led UPA government’s inability and failure to contain the rupee’s slide against the dollar.
She further faulted the Centre for failing to take into account the welfare of the people, and empowering the oil companies to determine petrol prices.
“Petrol prices have been hiked by Rs 1.55 per litre, just 15 days after they were hiked by Rs 1.82 per litre. It is unjust to increase petrol prices twice in a month. The Centre must spare some thought for how ordinary people can bear 24 hikes in a year,” said Jayalalithaa in a strong statement here.
She said that the oil companies were making hay while the sun shines and that they were not taking people’s welfare in mind as they were worried only about their profits. She further said the hike would only serve to further increase the prices of essential commodities.
“A good government is one that acts with the interest of its people and their economy. The Congress-led government is doing the exact opposite.
I strongly urge it to take away the power of price determination from the oil companies, repeal Sunday’s price hike and also prevent any more hikes,” she said.