BJP for rollback of petrol price hike

NEW DELHI: BJP on Saturday demanded rollback of the increase in petrol prices, saying the seventh hike in the last six months was totally unjustified and loot of the common man.

"This hike is totally unjustified. This is nothing but loot of the common man by the government. A product which costs Rs 30 is being sold at Rs 60, which is a 100 per cent taxation. We call for its rollback," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

He said the ground of under-recovery by the oil companies cited by the government as the reason for the hike is not true.

"This is the seventh hike in the last six months. Only last month there was an increase of Rs 3 per litre.... oil companies are earning profits and giving dividends while still showing under-recovery," Javadekar said.

He expressed fear that now even diesel prices may go up. State-owned oil companies on Saturday raised petrol prices by Rs 2.50-Rs 2.54 per litre citing international crude oil prices, which climbed to $92 per barrel.

"Food inflation is at 18 per cent while inflation is at 9 per cent. This is the worst gift that a government can give to the people in New Year," Javadekar said.