Political reactions: Parties don't back govt, fuel hike

The fuel price hike has generated a flurry of political reactions. While BJP called the hike “economic terrorism”, AIADMK said it was like adding fuel to fire. Here’s a wrap:

BJP: This is economic terror

New Delhi: The BJP on Wednesday lashed out at the Government for hiking the prices of petroleum products saying a "directionless" UPA has unleashed "economic terror" on the nation.

"This action is disastrous for the economy and all the claims made by the Prime Minister so far on the front on inflation has been proved to be a hoax," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy told PTI.

He said the Government which has run out of ideas has now unleashed this economic terror on the nation by increasing the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas.

"This decision is the last straw for the UPA government and the last nail on the coffin of the common man, whose interests it claim to champion," he added.

The Prime Minister's "shallow" claims of controlling prices have proved to be a hoax and the 'Aam Aadmi' (common man) is its first casualty, he said.

Rudy also ridiculed the Left parties opposition to the petrol price hike, saying the remarks of the Communists are "hypocritical" as they are part and parcel of this decision.

AIADMK: This is like adding insult to injury

Condemning the hike in the prices of petroleum products, AIADMK General Secretary Jayalalithaa on Wednesday demanded its immediate rollback.

"If the Centre is serious in containing inflation and protecting the poor, it should have withdrawn the customs and excise duties on petrol and diesel to offset losses suffered by the oil companies. It should not burden the common man. The five per cent reduction in the excise on petroleum products is no use to the public', she said in a statement.

Tamil Nadu government should also reduce the sales tax on petroleum products, she said.

When the common man was suffering from several problems, the latest price hike adds insult to injury, she said.

"No one will accept the Centre's reasons that the crude price has gone up in the international market. The country is not importing the entire crude from abroad. It is totally unacceptable to fix international market rates for domestic crude," she said.

RJD: This is unfortunate

RJD, the second largest constituent of the Congress-led UPA, joined the Left parties in demanding roll back of the hike in fuel prices and warned that it was a "step towards death warrant" of the ruling alliance.

Party General Secretary Vijay Krishna described the move as "unfortunate" and asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to ignore the opposition to the decision and review it immediately.