Petrol price rollback is an 'eyewash: Rajiv Pratap Rudy

New Delhi, June 4 (ANI): Reacting to Overseas Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi's disapproval of the petrol price hike and suggestion for a "bold look" on reducing the recent increase, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy has termed the partial rollback in the rates announced by the government as a mere 'eyewash.'

"I would congratulate Vayalar Ravi for raising this issue. I feel that even members of the ruling alliance are realising that the government is taking wrong steps and decisions," Rudy told media here.

"Ravi has made these remarks as a reaction to these developments. The government has betrayed the masses and the country once again. On one hand, the price of petrol has been raised by nearly 7.50 rupees. Now, the government has cut 1.68 rupees, or two rupees with taxes, from the existing rates. This is a ploy to befool the masses. The people of India know and understand basic arithmetic," Rudy added.

Accepting that the hike in petrol price was too steep, Defence Minister A.K Antony had earlier said the right to revise it lay with the state-owned oil marketing companies.

"Although, the central government has already decontrolled as such the rights to fix the prices of petroleum product lie with the petroleum companies, the government still has the authority to fix the price for diesel, kerosene and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) products," Antony said.

"The petrol price hike was, indeed too much and personally I do not justify such an instant rise in prices of petrol. Yet I am giving an assurance that the government will not raise the diesel, kerosene and LPG prices," he had added.

The Congress party-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA-II) government had on March 24 announced a hike in petrol prices by rupees.7.50 per litre.

The move has triggered fierce howls of protest and outcry from the masses, and parties from across the national political spectrum -including key government allies-have demanded a rollback in the increased prices.

The hike in prices meant that the price of petrol in Delhi went up from rupees.65.64 to.73.14 per litre. In Mumbai, the price shot up from rupees.70.66 to 78.16 per litre whereas in Kolkata, the price rose to rupees 77.53 from 70.03 per litre. In southern state of Tamil Nadu, the cost jumped from rupees 69.55 to 77.05 per litre. (ANI)