Opposition blasts government on fuel price hike

The government, already on a sticky wicket due to the fallout of the 2G scam and the Lokpal bill draft, may now find itself on the backfoot in the face of trenchant criticism  for raising fuel prices across the board.

The price hike, though, has come in handy for both the opposition and well as UPA allies to take potshots at an increasingly beleagured government.

"With this kind of increase, there is going to be cascading effect on inflation. The people of this country should understand this government is no more for the aam aadmi," said BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitaram.

"The government needs to think on the fuel price hike. Trinamool Congress is totally against it," said Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee.

Pointing out that fuel prices were already high, she said "kerosene and domestic gas are used by common people. The price of petrol was also recently hiked."

BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said party president Nitin Gadkari has announced that the party would hold protests from the district to the national level across the country against the hike.