Arrest the slide in value of the rupee, and do not hike the prices of petroleum products, said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.
Reacting to the Rs 1.82 a litre hike in petrol prices, she has urged the Government of India to roll-back the increase and take firm steps to control the weakening of the rupee against the US dollar.
Frequent fuel price increase is further driving up the prices of essential commodities and hurting the public. She “strongly condemned” the Central Government’s attitude.
The Chief Minister blamed the economic policies of the Centre and the deregulation of petroleum prices, referring to the oil marketing companies being allowed to dictate prices.
Only the Government of India and the Reserve Bank can take steps to stop the rupee depreciation. It is unacceptable that the public are bearing the burden of frequent price increase. Petrol prices have been revised for the third time in one month, she said.