Karunanidhi wants a rollback of diesel price hike

Chennai, Sep 14 (ANI): Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) chief and former Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi on Friday demanded an immediate rollback in the hike of diesel price, saying his party was not consulted before a decision in this regard was taken by the UPA Government at the Centre.

Describing the diesel price hike as 'very high' and unexpected, he said: "We will seek rollback in the coordination panel meeting."

The Government has increased the price of diesel by five rupees per litre. However, there has been no increase in prices of petrol and PDS kerosene.

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA), in its meeting chaired by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh yesterday also decided to restrict the supply of subsidized LPG cylinders to each consumer to six per year. The new prices came into effect from last midnight.

The revised retail-selling price of diesel in Delhi is approximately 47 rupees per litre. Branded diesel will, however, be sold at the market rate.

An official release said that the subsidized cylinders will continue to be available at 399 rupees per cylinder in Delhi. The market rate of LPG cylinders at non-subsidized rates will be notified by Oil Marketing Companies, on a monthly basis.

The above decisions will reduce the under-recovery of companies by about 20,300 crore rupees. The under-recovery for 2012-13 will be about 1,67,000 crore rupees. (ANI)