Opposition parties demand roll-back of fuel prices

The BJP took out a protest march in the city with district president Rajesh Gupta riding on a horse cart.

"The way the price has been hiked, the day is not far away when the people will have to disown their vehicles and use horse-carts for conveyance," he said.

The party flayed the central government for steep increase in the petrol price and blamed the wrong policies implemented by the UPA for the hike.

"This is for the first time in the history of independent India that the prices have been hiked by Rs 7.50 per litre at one go. It is a serious blow to the already burdened common public, and we strongly condemn this move and demand an immediate roll-back," Gupta said.

Gupta alleged that the government is "hand-in-glove with the oil companies" and deliberately hiked the prices a day after Parliament session was over.

"They did not have the courage to face the questions in Parliament that is why they have increased fuel prices after the session was over. They say that the prices had to be increased because of the depreciating value of the rupee, but who is responsible for that?" Gupta questioned.

Jammu and Kashmir's main Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also demanded the government to roll back the decision.

"We demand an immediate roll-back. There are also reports of increase in the diesel and cooking gas prices, we urge the government to reconsider its decision, as it will have a serious impact on the common people of the country," PDD's Jammu unit vice-president Vikram Singh said.

The CPI(M) also came out against the fuel price hike and said it will have a cascading effect on the commodity market, which will put an additional burden on the country's population.