Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today termed as “unjust” the frequent hike in petrol prices and accused the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) of being profit-oriented.

“Increasing petrol prices twice a month is unjust. Centre should think how people can tolerate petrol price hike 24 times a year,” she said in a statement.

Today’s hike had come within days of OMCs increasing petrol rates by Rs. 1.82, she said, adding, they were functioning with a profit motive. She said this would affect a large section, including people in rural areas and office-goers who were dependent on petrol-fuelled two-wheelers.

This hike would propel an increase in prices of essential commodities and vehicle tariff, thus affecting the national economy.

“A good government is one that is aware of the people’s livelihood and economy. But the Congress-led central government is working in contradiction to this. I strongly condemn this,” she said.

She asked the Centre to withdraw the powers granted to OMCs to fix fuel prices and demanded for a rollback of today’s hike.

She charged the Centre with taking no steps to address the issue of falling value of Indian rupee against the US dollar.

Oil companies raised petrol rates by Rs. 1.55 a litre, excluding local sales tax or VAT, with effect from midnight today.