New Delhi, Sept 13: Slamming the government over diesel price hike, UP allies Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party have demanded an immediate rollback while the opposition said the increase will further hit the common man and create "mayhem" in the economy.
"We are unhappy. We will not accept it and demand its rollback," Mamata Banerjee, chief of Trinamool Congress, the second-largest constituent of the UPA said in Kolkata.
"If people do not mind, I will be most happy to withdraw support (to the UPA). If I withdraw support then other parties will provide support to them. And, then ask why we left the UPA which led to its collapse. People had misunderstood us when we had withdrawn support earlier."
The Trinamool Congress would take to the streets for 72 hours from Friday opposing the decisions, she said.
Demanding an immediate rollback in diesel prices, the Samajwadi Party, which provides outside support to the UPA, said, the decision is ill-timed.
"We demand immediate withdrawal of the hike as it will badly hit the common man and farmers," SP leader Kamal Farooqi said.
Their sharp reaction came after the government decided to hike diesel prices by Rs 5.62 per litre effective from Friday.
The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, this evening decided to raise diesel prices.
It also decided to restrict supply of subsidised cooking gas to six cylinders per household in a year.
The BJP termed the price hike as a cruel joke and "mortal blow" to the common man and farmers and charged the government with conspiring with petrol 'mafia'.
"This is a cruel joke on the common man in the country. It has hit farmers hard during the peak paddy sowing season. We will not allow this hike.
We will not allow this government to loot the common man like this," BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said.Admitting that it was an "unpleasant" decision of the Government, Congress said that it was not in favour of a hike in diesel prices to such an extent because it hurts the farmers and the common man.
"We are not in favour of a hike in diesel prices to such an extent because it hurts the farmers and common man," party general secretary Digvijay Singh said.
The government has to take a conscious decision after taking all allies of the UPA into confidence, he said adding that this should be discussed in the UPA Coordination Committee.
Asked whether it affects the UPA's projection that it is the government of the 'aam aadmi', Singh said that the UPA I and UPA II have taken innumerable decisions benefiting common man.
"At the same time, there are some unpleasant decisions that have to be taken by the Government by taking an overall view of what is best for the country," he said.
The Samajwadi Party, which is providing outside support to the UPA, protested against the price hike.
"This hike is too big and has come after Parliament session got over. We will ask for a rollback as this is going to badly hit common people and farmers. Some concessions have to be given to the people," party leader Kamal Farooqi said.
Charging the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre with lacking economic ideas to tackle the fuel price hike and betraying the people, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa also demanded immediate rollback of hike in diesel prices, besides the ceiling on supply of subsidized cylinders.
"Expressing my strong condemnation to this hike which will affect all sections of society. I demand the rollback of the hike in diesel price and ceiling in cylinder subsidy, if the UPA government is really concerned about the people," she said.
The Shiromani Akali Dal alleged that it was deliberate punishment meted out to the citizens for raising their voice against the Congress party.
