BJP demands rollback of petrol price hike

THE BHARATIYAJanata Party (BJP) has slammed the Central Government for its decision to raise petrol prices and demanded an immediate rollback.Talking to reporters here, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said: "This hike is totally unjustified. This is nothing but loot of the common man by the government.""A product which costs Rs 30 is being sold at Rs 60, which is a 100 per cent taxation. We call for its rollback," he added."This is a government organised and planned loot. A robber can be caught stealing but what to do when the government itself acts as a robber," he said."Already there is a 100 percent tax on petrol and in the whole world there is no country which levies tax of such huge amount. On top of it they have increased the price by rupees 2.50 from Rupees 3 that was raised last month. Within one month they have increased the petrol prices by 10 percent," he added.State-owned oil companies last night raised petrol prices by Rs 2.50-Rs 2.54 per litre.Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) raised petrol prices by 2.50 per litre, while Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL) hiked rates by 2.54 rupees a litre. Bharat Petroleum has raised price by 2.53 rupees per litre.Petrol at IOC outlets in Delhi will now cost 58.37 rupees a litre. The fuel at HPCL and BPCL pumps will be sold at 58.39 rupees per litre.State-owned firms also hiked Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices by two per cent.