Karunanidhi hopeful of diesel price rollback

TIRUCHIRAPPALLI - Citing revenue shortfall in the Union budget as justification for increase in excise duty on petroleum products, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi is nevertheless confident that the increase in diesel prices will be rolled back.

“We will demand a rollback of increase in the price of diesel in the budget debate. We will not participate in actions that would stall the activities of parliament,” Karunanidhi Wednesday told reporters here, around 330 km from Chennai.

He was here to launch the Kalaignar Free Housing Scheme - a scheme to convert mud houses into concrete ones free of cost.

Queried about the long pending Sethusamudaram Canal Project, he said the project work has slowed down but it could not be said that the work has stopped.

Asked about new schemes from the state government, he said: “Wait till March 19 when the government will present its budget in the assembly.”

Side-stepping the question whether assembly elections would be held soon after the World Classical Tamil Conference (WCTC) in Coimbatore this June, Karunanidhi said the party will face the election along with the “hand” - the election symbol of its ally Congress.