Chennai: M.Karunanidhi has hit back at detractors who have questioned the DMK's announcement of a protest against the petrol price hike on the 30th of this month. In his daily column in the party mouthpiece 'Murasoli', the DMK Chief has pointed out that "it's not just the DMK,but other allies like the NCP, TMC who have also protested. Even within the Congress, there has been dissent over the hike".
"I have requested the Centre to at least partially rollback the price. The state government must also reduce sales tax on petrol, just as I did when I was in power."
When the media had sought his response on the day of the hike, Karunanidhi had indicated that the Centre had not taken his party into confidence and that it was not possible for a consensus among allies over every issue. "If we are to agree on every issue,why are we separate parties with our own ideologies?" the former Tamilnadu Chief Minister said.
Under fire for not doing enough as an ally to prevent such hikes but later announcing token protests, the DMK has cited the example of the "AIADMK's allies like the Left which also protested a few months ago when the price of milk and bus fares were increased".
Karunanidhi was also skeptical about the reasons given for the hike like the rising crude oil prices when neighbouring countries like Pakistan and China were selling petrol at lesser rates.
