BJP, Left condemn petrol price hike

New Delhi, July 24 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Tuesday condemned the move to announce a hike in petrol prices by 70 paise.

State - owned oil marketing companies have hiked the petrol prices by 70 paise per litre. The new rates became effective from midnight last night.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the hike in the price of petrol, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said: "Ahead of any elections, the price of petrol and diesel decreases and after the elections they tend to increase. We will not tolerate this."

"The government increases or decreases the price of petrol according to their wish. The BJP is against it and we believe that government should roll back the price hike as they decrease the price during elections and increase it after the polls. This is not correct," said Hussain.

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja said that another hike in the petrol price would burden the common man.

"There is no rationality when the prices of all food items and essential commodities are high when the inflation on food items is high. Oil marketing companies go on increasing the price of petrol and petroleum products. This will lead to cascading effect and this will further burden the common people and it will subject the common people to further hardships and sufferings," said Raja.

Meanwhile, commuters across India have denounced the steep petrol price hike, saying that it would make a hole in their pocket.

"We expect that the price of petrol should improve in the days to come and the country should progress. We are facing problems as we commute daily from Gurgaon and there is high consumption of petrol. The price hike will hit our pockets and affect our budget. We are left with no option but to adjust and control our budget," said Harsh Grover, a local in New Delhi.

"Hike in the prices of petrol results in the increase in the prices of essential commodities. If the transportation cost increases, prices of everything will increase. So, that affects the total lifestyle of the people," said Rakesh, a local in Mumbai.

The hike means petrol will cost Rs. 68.48 for a litre in New Delhi against Rs. 67.78, Rs. 74.05 against Rs. 73.35 in Mumbai, Rs. 76.10 against Rs. 75.40 in Chennai, Rs. 80.31 against Rs. 79.61 in Bengaluru, Rs. 76.51 against Rs.75.81 in Kolkata, Rs. 73.45 Gandhinagar, Rs. 73.51 in Bhopal and Rs. 69.85 in Chandigarh. (ANI)