The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a key ally in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, has come down heavily on the central government, threatening to quit the government if the price of petrol is not rolled back.
"We will not hesitate to walk out over policies which are anti-poor," IBNS quoted DMK supremo M Karunanidhi as saying.
The DMK organized a protest rally on Wednesday to demand the central government to roll back the hike in petrol price. It will also target the state government over hike in the prices of milk, power tariff and bus fares.
The protest by the DMK came just a day after the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) held rally demanding the government for a rollback in petrol price.
Even as the DMK holds protest against the price hike, it is trying to play safe.
"We have not said we are pulling out...we have been talking to the Congress," NDTV quoted DMK leader Khushbhoo as saying.
Interestingly, Karunanidhi has taken a U-turn after stating that he "will not hesitate to walk out". He back-tracked his statement and said that his aprty will be part of the government and won't threaten the government with the presidential elections coming up.
Last week, Indian Oil along with state-owned oil retailers Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd and Bharat Petroleum hiked the price of petrol by over Rs.7 per litre, thus inviting criticism from all quarters.
The Trinamool Congress, which is also an ally of the Congress-led UPA government, has openly expressed its displeasure over the hike in petrol price. TMC chief and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee led thousands of protestors on Saturday to demand the central government for a rollback in petrol price.
Mamatama took the protest against the hike in petrol prices to the streets herself as she walked for a roughly 5-km stretch in south Kolkata leading thousands of party supporters against the decision of the centre.
(With Inputs from IBNS)
