Stepping up pressure for a rollback of the petrol price hike, UPA ally DMK chief M. Karunanidhi will lead a demonstration here on May 30 against the unprecedented fuel price increase even as the Centre said states could reduce VAT on petroleum products to provide relief to people.
After Trinamul Congress supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee hit the street, 88-year-old Karunanidhi will lead the party’s statewide demonstrations by taking part in a protest at Saidapet.
In a move to upstage arch rival DMK, the ruling AIADMK had on Saturday announced demonstrations on May 29 demanding immediate rollback of petrol price hike of over `7.50 a litre.
In Agartala, the ruling Left Front on Sunday called for a 12-hour general strike in Tripura on May 31 to protest against the fuel rate increase.
Meanwhile, minister of state in the PMO V. Narayanasamy has said states could reduce the VAT on petroleum products to provide relief to the people.
“The states can lower the VAT and that can help reduce the petrol price,” he told reporters here on Saturday night.
In a letter to his partymen earlier, Mr Karunanidhi has asked them to ensure success of the May 30 protest.