From correspondents in Orissa, India, 08:03 PM IST

The hike in the price of petrol, diesel and cooking gas will trigger a rise in the price of essential commodities and the poor people will be affected more severely by it, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said Wednesday.

'We oppose the decision,' he told reporters here.

'We want withdrawal of the new tariff and will convey our demand to the central government.'

Bharatiya Janata Party all India vice president Jual Oram said: 'The Congress government has failed in all areas. The decision to hike the price of fuels is an anti-people decision.

'We will take the matter to the people and launch agitations not only in the state but also across the country,' he said.

The central government early Wednesday announced that the prices of petrol and diesel had been raised by Rs.5 and Rs.3 a litre respectively. Each cylinder of cooking gas will cost Rs.50 more.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)