BJP to besiege Secretariat if TN fails to cut rates in 3 days

BJP state president K Annamalai on Sunday warned that his party would launch a massive protest to besiege the secretariat if the DMK government fails to reduce petrol and diesel prices by Rs 5 per litre in three days time.

“The DMK had promised in its election manifesto that it would reduce Rs 5 per litre of petrol and diesel and would provide Rs 100 subsidy on LPG. Though BJP government at the Centre did not promise to reduce the fuel prices in its manifesto, it has reduced the prices to lessen the burden on the common people. People voted the DMK to power expecting reduction in the fuel prices but, the ruling government is coming out with new excuse to refuse rate cuts. Now they have to reduce the price within 72 hours, else we will besiege the Secretariat,” Annamalai told reporters at the Chennai airport.

He said that PM Narendra Modi’s government has cut the excise duty to reduce the petrol and diesel prices by Rs 14.50 per litre and Rs 17 per litre respectively since November last year. “The fuel price was reduced even as the value of the rupee has fallen from Rs 60 per dollar during the UPA government to Rs 76 per dollar in May this year. This has led to increase of about Rs 1,600 per barrel of crude oil. Despite the increase in the prices, the Modi government has reduced the fuel prices resulting in loss of revenue of Rs 1.6 lakh crore,” he said.

Replying to Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan arguing that the fuel prices was hiked without consulting the states, he said if one goes by his argument, Prime Minister have to get permission from them even if he wants to step out of his office.

People voted the DMK to power expecting reduction in the fuel prices but, the government is coming out with new excuse to refuse rate cuts, said Annamalai