As expected, the United Progressive Alliance government’s decision to hike the prices of petroleum products was met with criticism by the Telugu Desam Party with its president N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday announcing a series of dharnas in front of district Collectorates across the state on June 27 to protest against the “Centre’s anti-people policies.”
Talking to media persons at NTR Trust Bhavan, Mr Naidu said the party would launch a fight for rollback of the prices of diesel, kereosene and Liquefied Petroleum Gas by organising dharnas across the state in front of district Collectorates on June 27. The former chief minister alleged that the Central government is burdening the poor and middle classes by increasing prices of petroleum products while giving large chunk of subsidies to multinational companies. “Except burdening poor, the government has done nothing to help the common man,” the Leader of the Opposition said. He continued, “If the government can contain the rampant corruption prevailing in the country and successfully brings back the black money stashed away in foreign tax havens, there would be no need to hike gas and diesel prices.” Mr Naidu had a suggestion to offer to offset the high fuel prices in the international markets. “The Centre could reducing taxes and also direct the state governments to do so, so that the common man does not have to suffer,” he suggested. “With the increase in the prices, the state government has to share the burden to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore,” he pointed out. Stating the petrol price in the state was highest across the country due to imposition of sales tax, he negated the claims of the state government that sales tax was lowest in Andhra Pradesh as compared to other states. Mr Naidu pointed out that the state was imposing 33 per cent as sales tax on petrol and 22.5 per cent on diesel, which was highest compared to other states. The former chief minister also questioned the rationale behind oil companies increasing prices despite earning lakhs of crores of rupees in profits. He also condemned Union Petroleum Minister Jaipal Reddy’s statement that there is a further chance of increasing the prices of petroleum products due to increase in crude prices in the international market. “The common man would suffer on account of the chain reaction when petroleum prices are hiked as it would definitely affect the prices of all other essential commodities,” Mr Naidu said. He added that even the farmers and the farming sector would be hit due to the hike in fuel prices.