DMK, Trinmool Congress demand roll back of fuel price hike

NEW DELHI/ CHENNAI / KOLKATA - Two major allies of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-Trinmool Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazagam (DMK) demanded the roll back of the tax put on petroleum products.

On Friday, the entire opposition walked out of the Lok Sabha protesting against the hike in tax on petroleum products.

Trinmool Congress went a step ahead and is said to be preparing to launch a protest rally against Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s decision in Kolkata.

Trinmool Congress chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee is said to be miffed with Mukherjee for taking away the tax exemption for Railways on goods transportation.

This may cost the Railways as much as Rs 6000 crores and also increase freight rates by six to seven percent, derails Banerjee’s please-all budget.

“We are not happy with the increase of price of petrol. If they rollback their decision it will be appreciated by us. It affects the poor people,” said Trinamool Congress MLA Sudip Bandhopadhyay.

“Our party responds for the interest of the people. We are planning to take a procession out in Kolkata at 2pm on Saturday,” he added

Bandopadhyaya further said that this is the first time that there has been a service charge on the Railways; any type of the service charge affects the poor people. Banerjee is trying her best to give transport to the poor people.

In Chennai, the DMK also joined the bandwagon on Saturday, demanding rollback of the price hike on fuels.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi is learnt to have written to Prime Minster Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Pranab Mukherjee, asking them to roll back on fuel prices, party sources said. (ANI)