JOIN USAttacking the government, BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the rise in petrol prices will "suck the blood" of the poverty-ridden masses. Naqvi also alleged that the steep rise in petrol prices has been done to “realise expenses” incurred by the UPA in the recently held Assembly polls in five states. Terming the price hike as “cruel blow”, the Left parties demanded the reversal of de-regulation policy that was implemented in June 2010.
"By increasing the price of petrol by Rs 5 a litre, the UPA government has given another cruel blow to the people who are already suffering from all-round price rise," a statement issued by CPM, CPI, RSP and Forward Bloc said.
Shiromani Akali Dal accuused the Congress-led UPA for indulging in vote politics. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal slammed the Centre for the "totally unjustified and unbearable" petrol price hike. Badal said the Centre of was deliberately delaying the hike for electoral gains.
Notably, in the steepest hike so far, the price of petrol has been raised by Rs 5 per litre from Saturday midnight, an increase of over 8 per cent. The petrol price hike came a day after the Assembly poll results in five states were declared.