The government's recent decision of hiking diesel price by Rs. 5 per litre and putting a cap on supply of subsidised LPG cylinders has encountered severe criticism from the BJP-led Opposition as well as many allies of the government itself.

While BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi described the decision as "a cruel joke" on the common man in the country, UPA's outside supporter Samajwadi Party (SP) on Friday staged protests across Uttar Pradesh. SP leaders burnt effigies of UPA leaders and demanded roll back of the hike in diesel prices.

Speaking about the protests, SP spokesperson Rajendra Chowdhury said, "SP workers expressed their anger through protests terming hike in diesel prices and cap on supply of subsidised LPG as an anti-people step."

The protests across Uttar Pradesh were held on a directive from SP's state unit president and CM Akhilesh Yadav.

PMK founder S Ramadoss and MDMK General Secretary Vaiko also slammed the hike, and asked the UPA regime to retract the decision at the earliest. Similarly, Trinamool Congress chief Mamta, TNCC president B S Gnanadesikan, DMK chief M Karunanidhi urged the Centre to withdraw the excise duty and the states to hack sales tax on diesel to make it affordable for the common man.

Apart from hiking diesel price, the centre government also capped the number of LPG cylinders that a household can get on subsidised rate at six per year. After six cylinders, consumers will have to purchase LPG at market price of Rs. 746 a cylinder.