HYDERABAD: Castigating the Central and State Governments for the latest hike in petroleum prices, the Telugu Desam Party president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, demanded that the duties/taxes component constituting two-thirds of their prices, be brought down.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr. Naidu said the latest and unprecedented hike, for the record fifth time in 15 months, had no parallel. His party would launch an agitation demanding a rollback. Replying to a question, he said the hike would definitely impact the coming municipal elections.

`Business motive'

He said both the Central and State Governments were "making business and profit," using the hike as a ruse. The fact that duties and taxes formed bulk of the price shows that both of them were mopping up revenue and not bothered about the effect it would have on the common man.

He said the party would approach court against the State Election Commission's decision to allow MPs and MLAs to give their choice of municipalities/ corporations after the municipal elections. This would enable the ruling party to move its MPs and MLAs to municipalities and corporations where its strength was weak and facilitate election of the chairpersons and mayors.

Mr. Naidu clarified that the party had not submitted any memorandum to the SEC seeking halt to implementation of Pay Revision Commission (PRC) recommendations for the employees. "It is cheap and negative politics by Congress to create misunderstanding among employees and people".

On the Government's decision not to accept the damages of Rs. 11.67 crores by Volkswagen, he said it (Government) had no clarity. When the scam broke out, it had denied it and claimed that the amount was safe. But the CBI inquiry clearly showed that it was deceived by a bogus company.

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