CHENNAI: AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam on Saturday demanded that the Tamil Nadu government reduce the petrol price by Rs 5 per litre and diesel price by Rs 4 per litre in accordance with the election manifesto of the ruling DMK.
In a statement, Panneerselvam said chief minister M K Stalin should make efforts to bring the petroleum products under the GST.
“The present chief minister, when he was opposition leader, said the rise in prices of fuel would result in increase in prices of essential commodities and burden the people.
The state and central governments should cut the excise duties and bring the products under the GST,” the former CM said.
The price of petrol was Rs 93.17 a litre and diesel Rs 86.65 when the DMK assumed charge on May 7.
A month after taking over the reins, on June 12, the price of petrol stood at Rs 97.43 a litre while diesel Rs 91.64 a litre.
This means, the petrol and diesel prices shot up by Rs 4.28 and Rs 4.99 respectively, Panneerselvam said.
The former chief minister said petrol and diesel were a crucial part in running the economy’s wheels.
The rise in prices would not only hamper the economic growth of the country but also lead to increase in prices of vehicles and other commodities.
From farmers using pump sets, traders taking the produce to the markets and ordinary citizens, all sections were affected by the price rise, he added.