Jayalalithaa condemns petrol price hike

CHENNAI: Slamming the Centre for the hike in petrol price, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today demanded its immediate rollback as it would badly hit the common man."At a time when inflation is rising, instead of taking steps to control prices, the Centre's action in hiking petrol prices is strongly condemnable. I condemn the fuel price hike," she said in a statement tonight.The latest hike would decrease the purchasing power of people, the chief minister said.Jayalalithaa said the Centre had been increasing the prices of petroleum products, unmindful of the fact that such action affects the common man.She said the increase in the prices of LPG, diesel and kerosene in July had also affected the people leading to spurt in prices. The latest hike would mainly affect people using two-wheelers.