By IANS,
New Delhi : The hike in petrol, diesel and cooking gas prices announced by the government was “unleashing of economic terror on the nation”, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said Wednesday.
“The decision of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), chaired by the prime minister (Manmohan Singh), to jack up the prices of petrol, diesel and cooking gas is shocking. The UPA government has unleashed economic terror on the nation. Today’s decision defies all economic logic,” said BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy.
“The prime minister, who has been obviously hiding so far under the garb of economic growth, stands completely exposed… They (the ruling United Progressive Alliance-UPA) have messed up the country’s economy,” he added.
The government Wednesday announced a hike of Rs.5 per litre for petrol, Rs.3 per litre for diesel and Rs.50 per cylinder for cooking gas.
Terming the fuel price hike as the last straw for the UPA government, he said: “The disdainful insensitivity exhibited to the ‘aam admi’ (the common man) will trigger mass unrest for which the UPA government will be solely responsible.
“Instead of sermonising, the prime minister should rather introspect on his ability to govern, must apologise to the nation and quit,” Rudy said, referring to Manmohan Singh’s address before an industry body Tuesday saying the price hike was inevitable.
“The Left have to equally apportion the blame of this sinister game played by the UPA government and in no way can absolve themselves. The country is fully aware of their hypocritical action and they stand completely exposed,” he said.
The Left parties, which extend support to the Congress-led UPA from outside, have criticised the price rise.
The BJP directed all its district-level units across the country to hold protest demonstrations at respective district headquarters and submit a memorandum demanding immediate withdrawal of the price hike.