Progressive’ TDP joins Mamata in oil price hike protest

“In less than an year, kerosene prices have been hiked from Rs 3 to Rs 9 a litre. This time, the BJP-led Government did not even consult the allied parties,” he said.

Though Naidu admitted that the oil pool deficit was growing, he said that the Centre could have cushioned the impact of the increase in international oil prices and not imposed the burden on the common man.

This is not the first time that Chandrababu Naidu has acted contrary to his image of being a “progressive” politician who does not hesitate to take harsh decisions. Some months ago, when the Centre had raised the issue prices of essential commodities under the public distribution system, he had raised a stink, though it was not enough to force the Centre to withdraw the hike. Party sources had then indicated that political compulsions in the light of the elections to local bodies which were to follow had been behind Naidu’s demand.

Though there are no such compulsions now, it is clear that by demanding that the Centre should roll back the hike in prices of petro products now, the TDP chief is trying to project a pro-poor image. Especially at a time when his government is facing the wrath of the public for the hike in power tariff.

The TDP is also making a concerted bid to blame the Centre for all the price hikes in the state, the latest being the increase in bus fares consequent upon the diesel price hike. The Opposition parties have already slammed the state government for hiking bus fares even when it is becoming clear that the Centre could indeed go in for at least a partial rollback of the hike in petro-products.

Asked about this, Yerran Naidu argued: “Last year, when we raised bus fares, we promised the people that we won’t hike them for the next five years. But now what choice do we have?” He added: “We are all for reforms but they should have a human face.”