UNI

Chennai, Jun 6: AIADMK General Secretary and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday strongly condemned the steep hike in the prices of petrol and diesel effected by the Centre and demanded its immediate rollback.

In a statement here, she described as a "dubious distinction", the Central government hiking the prices for a record sixth time in its two-year rule. ''No other government had achieved this feat,'' she added.

Stating that the hike in prices of petrol and diesel would lead to rise in prices of all essential commodities, she accused the Congress-led UPA government, in which DMK was a key constituent, of betraying the interests of the people, who had voted for them.

Jayalalithaa recalled that though the Centre had hiked the prices of diesel and petrol five times previously, the previous AIADMK government headed by her in Tamil Nadu had not hiked the bus fares.

The present DMK government, headed by Mr Karunanidhi, who was present in New Delhi when the hike was announced, should consider reduction in sales tax to ensure that the burden was not passed on to the people.

She reminded that this was the suggestion given to her Government Karunanidhi.

People were well aware of the 'cunning' acts of the Central Government, which had announced the hike after the Assembly elections in five states. "It (the Centre) had taken a decision to hike the prices of petrol and diesel before the elections. Fearing rout in the polls, it desisted from announcing the hike at that time", she claimed.

"The hike in prices of diesel will adversely affect the farmers, who are using diesel for their pumpsets, besides posing additional burden on them", she said.

"The funny thing is that the allies of the UPA, who had supported the hike, had been issuing statements condemning it'', Jayalalithaa charged.