Sheila Dikshit defends petrol price hike, assures relief

New Delhi, May 25 (ANI): Amid fierce nationwide criticism, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has defended the Central Government's decision to hike the price of petrol, saying that her government would try to mitigate the problems of the public.

"Whatever we can do, we will do it because it is a steep hike in petrol prices. But this hike was done under the pressure of circumstances. It was not done by their will," Dikshit told media here.

"The hike was much needed under the international market pressure. Our oil companies were demanding a hike. On behalf of state government, if we can do anything to mitigate the problems of the masses, we will do that," she added.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Raghavji has accused the central government of being insensitive towards the people.

He claimed that anticipating such moves by the Congress party-led government, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)- ruled Madhya Pradesh government had initiated appropriate remedial measures.

"We had this thing in our mind that petrol prices would be increased and that is why we had reduced the price of VAT (value added tax) by 75 paise earlier in our budget session. The price hike is very unfortunate. Middle class people will face lot of problems and it will be very difficult for them to survive," said Raghavji.

In the steepest ever increase, the UPA-II Government on Wednesday raised petrol prices by a massive Rs.7.54 per litre, the first hike in rates in six months.

The hike in prices means that the price of petrol in Delhi will go up from Rs.65.64 per litre to Rs.73.14 per litre. In Mumbai, the price will go from Rs.70.66 per litre to Rs.78.16 per litre. In Kolkata, the price will go from Rs.70.03 per litre to Rs.77.53 per litre In Chennai, the price will go from Rs.69.55 per litre to Rs.77.05 per litre.

State-owned oil companies have decided to raise petrol price by Rs 6.28 per litre excluding local sales tax or VAT. The hike translates into Rs 7.50 per litre in Delhi and is the steepest ever.

The decision to hike petrol prices came a day after the end of the Budget Session of Parliament. (ANI)