The fifth hike in a year, the government gave in to the demands of the oil companies to increase the petrol price by Rs 1.80 per litre excluding taxes. In Chennai petrol is priced at Rs 72.64 since midnight Wednesday. In January this year petrol price was put at Rs 63.36 in Chennai and now it has touched Rs 72.64 which came as a rude shock to the common man.

The Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa condemned the centre for constantly raising the price of petrol without having any concern for the common man.