Triggering yet another crisis in the United Progressive Alliance, its ally, the Trinamool Congress, on Friday gave a three-day deadline to the Government to roll back the diesel price hike and FDI in multi-brand retail.

The Samajwadi Party also held protests in Lucknow, but the Congress ruled out any roll-back in diesel price hike.

The Congress said it was confident of convincing the people, UPA partners and supporting groups about the “unpleasant” decision. Congress sources indicated that the allies and outside supporters, like the SP and the Bahujan Samaj Party were informed about the possible hike.

What worries the Congress is the new-found axis between the SP and Trinamool Congress.

Party spokesperson P.C Chacko said the Congress President Sonia Gandhi had tried to convince the Government about the party’s reservation to any increase in fuel prices. “The Government had no option,” he said as global prices of crude oil were spiralling and the rupee was weakening.

The party urged the States to help consumers by reducing taxes on diesel. But, Congress Chief Ministers like Oommen Chandy, have also opposed the hike.

The BJP challenged the UPA allies and supporters to withdraw the support to the Government if they were committed to their opposition to price hike. It said the country was tired of the economist Prime Minister, who has unleashed ‘financial terror’ on the common people.

The Left parties, too, announced nation-wide agitations against the decision.

>jigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in

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