Tripura Left Front protests fuel price hike

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar Thursday demanded that the central government immediately withdraw the hike in petrol and diesel prices while the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) announced mass demonstrations Friday to protest the hike.

Petroleum Minister Murli Deora Wednesday announced a hike of Rs.4 per litre for petrol and of Rs.2 for diesel.

"Was petroleum price hike in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's 100-day programme?" asked Sarkar, who is also a CPI-M politburo member.

Sarkar said people are reeling under a heavy price rise of essential items and the fuel price hike would further increase the burden on the common men.

State Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury said the hike in price of petroleum products has shown the electorate how the Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government would run the country.

"The UPA government had reduced the prices of petroleum products before the Lok Sabha election just to influence the electors and their anti-people attitude has once again been exposed when they increased the prices of fuel within a month of assuming office," Chowdhury added.

The state committee of the CPI-M, the dominant party of the ruling Left Front, has also decided to organise protest demonstrations across the state Friday against the price rise.

"The UPA government can reduce custom and excise duty to balance the marginal price hike of petroleum products in the international market," said Gautam Das, CPI-M spokesman.

Last updated on Jul 2^nd, 2009 at 17:12 pm IST--IANS