In Maharashtra's Parbhani, petrol prices touch nearly Rs 90 per litre

Despite Opposition Congress's 'rail roko' agitation on Mumbai, the oil prices in Parbhani continued to mount. According to Parbhani District Petrol Dealers Association (PDPDA) president Sanjay Deshmukh petrol had touched the "psychological barrier" of Rs 90 per litre, (Rs 89.97) on Monday with diesel at Rs 77.92 per litre.

As the petrol price became a major point of nationwide agitation, Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan lashed out at the Shiv Sena saying it was equally to blame for the price rise. He said Sena was "helpless for power" and that its "real face stood exposed".

Chavan said the Sena had "stopped roaring and is instead barking" after it chose to refrain from supporting the protest in Mumbai.

"Their leader Sanjay Raut said we woke up late on the people's issue. At least we woke up. There are posts on the social media that the Shiv Sena has stopped roaring and is instead barking," he said.

Meanwhile, as fuel prices continued the upward spiral, the Andhra Pradesh government announced a reduction of tax on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 a litre.

Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the Centre earned a huge sum by hiking levies on fuel but did little to reduce the burden on the common man. The state government is currently levying 31 per cent Value Added Tax(VAT) plus Rs 4 as additional tax per litre of petrol and diesel.

The additional tax component is now being reduced to Rs 2 a litre, a senior official of the commercial taxes department said. Consequently, the price of petrol is expected to come down to Rs 84.71 a litre and diesel Rs 77.98 from Tuesday morning when the tax cut comes into effect.

"Though the state is faced with a deficit budget, we have decided to reduce the tax and ease the burden on people," the chief minister said.