[Slonopotam845]

The Center's announcement of a steep hike of Rs.50 per cylinder of cooking gas and Rs.3 per litre of diesel, besides increase of Rs.2 a litre of kerosene has made the common man, as well as the economist, deeply worried about all-round price rise at a time when domestic budgets are already strained.

“The food inflation is now around 9.5 per cent and it is certain to go up by one or two per cent due to this increase in petroleum product prices“, said Mr J.Jeyaranjan, a development economist. He said diesel price hike would push up the truck transportation costs of essential items and that would impact the price situation for the end user. “The government is following a regressive tax system in rising prices of petroleum products. This method doesn't differentiate between the common man and the rich“, he pointed out.

“We are already shelling out Rs.352 per cylinder and this hike will badly hit our monthly budget“, said M Uma Maheswari, a housewife. According to her, the rise in prices of vegetables and fruits, besides the groceries, are bound to go up steeply from Saturday.
“Salaries are not keeping pace with price hikes, so you can well imagine the plight of people, particularly the middle class.“

- DC Chennai