New Delhi: Terming the hike in petrol prices as "anti-people", BJP on Thursday demanded its rollback, alleging that the government's argument of inflation going up due to growth had fallen flat as cost of essential commodities was going up while GDP was falling.
"BJP condemns this hike in petrol prices by Rs 3 per litre. We demand a roll back as this measure is against the common man. The UPA allies of Congress should also oppose this hike," party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said.
Government today announced a hike of Rs 3 per litre in price of petrol.
Hussain said inflation has touched double digits and government argument of growth leading to increase in prices does not hold good as GDP is falling.
"The government is losing sleep due to its concern for profits of oil companies. This hike in petrol prices has been done for their benefit," Hussain said.
He alleged that while the attention of the masses is focused on the slew of corruption cases and scams being unearthed, the government has used this opportunity to hike petrol prices "on the sly".
Another BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said after this petrol price hike, the Congress and the UPA government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will have to be prepared "to face a million mutinies".
"This is betrayal of the nation reeling under severe price rise situation. Is this a vendetta of Congress government to the upsurge of protest against corruption being witnessed today?" Rudy said.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, September 15, 2011, 22:59