Public fury of fuel price hike: 'Is it petrol or gold?'

"Are the fuel pumps pouring petrol or gold?"

This was among the many angry reactions from people to the government's announcement to hike petrol prices.

Discuss the petrol price hike here!

Many of them contemplated shunning their cars and avail services of local trains so that their pockets are not hit hard. As the government announced a Rs 7.50 per litre hike in petrol price from midnight, anger was written on the faces of many people.

"It is not just about my car bills. What will be the effect of this hike? It will lead to price rise. Everything will now cost a bomb. Is it petrol or gold?" Jatin P A, a media professional, said.

...

With Agency Inputs

Many office-goers in New Delhi are now planning to move to Metro.

"I don't have a Metro station near my house. It is seven km from my house. I used to take my car. Now I can't. Because I will end up spending at least Rs 2,000 extra if I use car. I will have to switch to Metro," Madhumita Misra, an accountant residing in Indrapuram and works in Connaught Place, said.

 In the steepest ever hike, petrol price was increased on Wednesday by Rs 7.50 a litre with effect from midnight tonight. State-owned oil firms said they will raise petrol price by Rs 6.28 per litre excluding local sales tax or VAT. The hike translates into Rs 7.50 per litre in Delhi. Petrol in Delhi currently costs Rs 65.64 a litre and after the increase it will be priced at Rs 73.14 per litre.

"I was planning to buy a car. If petrol price is sky rocketing like this, I have to rethink. I can't spend substantial part of my earnings on petrol," said Blesson Mathews, a junior software professional, said. 

Click on NEXT to go further... 

Social networking sites too are abuzz with people venting their ire against the government's decision.

Some comments of Rediff Zarabol:

@Viswanathan: The Indian economy is in shambles and looks to be sliding down very fast, faster than hundred meters sprinter!

@Bhagwan: What's the use in crying over and over again on the same issue when anguish cannot be transformed into action. When there was not any scope in taking excuse of rising international crude prices...all of sudden rupee takes a dip (An excuse)that too at the end of parliamentary session....as the session is over(timing) the inevitable has happened. Let us enjoy it too and employ austerity measures. We should be prepared for the worst which is perhaps yet to come.

@Kogile rama: Great gift by UPA to Aam Aadmi. They have increased petrol price for the record 28 times and reduced once post coming to power. Great people are ruling this country without knowing how to manage. It is is tragedy of the nation.

@R The growth story that began in 1991 has been killed by Congress. They have repeated what they did between 1947 to 1991. The economy was booming when they took over in 2004 and once again they have brought us to the brink.

Click on NEXT to go further...

Some comments on Twitter:  

@amsrjn: People upset over #petrol price hike must ensure they are on a voter list and vote in next election. Else, all the outrage is meaningless.

@ASHUGOYAL2611: plz gov. explain why there is hike when international price have gone down from $110 to $90 per barrel.

@itskavyahere: Amazing India, we have the world's cheapest car and the world's costliest #petrol

Click on NEXT to go further...

Then there were some who took their resentment to sarcastic levels

@AartiMadan: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari Knew About The #Petrol Price Hike.

@ComedyCentralIn: Breaking: Mumbai cops raid party. Detain youngsters sniffing 100 litres of #Petrol

@SmilePleez: #Petrol is the new Gold. Soon Muthoot Finance might come up with a Petrol Loan scheme.

@SwatantraKumar: Drink and drive should not be a problem now. After all how many will be able to afford alcohol and #petrol on the same day?

Click on NEXT to go further...

...