Jayalalithaa describes latest cut in petrol price hike 'eyewash'

CHENNAI: Describing as "eyewash" the recent rollback in petrol price increase, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today demanded complete rollback of the hike, saying international crude oil prices were falling.

"With international crude prices falling, it is yet another eyewash that the price was reduced by Rs 3.13 (in Chennai). This is not acceptable to anyone," she said.

Going by the latest crude oil rates, Jayalalithaa said the Centre should have not only withdrawn the entire Rs 7.50 hike announced on May 24 but also reduced it further than the prevailing petrol price on that day.

"But the central government, in which the DMK is a part of, has not reverted the price to the May 24 prevailing rate which is regrettable. Therefore, I insist that Centre should come forward to reduce the price to bring petrol rates on par with those prior to May 24," she said in a statement.

The Centre had announced that the price of petrol will be cut by Rs 2.46 per litre effective from midnight last night.