The announcement of the steep increase of '5 per litre of petrol from midnight, May 14, will only add fuel to the fire of inflation across the country. The cascading effect on all commodities will soon be seen and those living below the poverty line will be hit the hardest. Though the increase is linked more to global oil prices, which have shot up due to the political turmoil in Libya, Egypt and Tunisia, the least the Centre could have done is to raise the price in tranches rather than at one go.
Ashok Jayaram, Bangalore