Opposition parties have lambasted the government for the Rs.5 a litre hike in petrol price, terming it a “cruel blow” to people who were already reeling under soaring prices of all essential commodities. Demanding immediate roll back of the hike, all major Opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party and Left parties, have threatened to organise demonstrations across the country against the Centre's “anti-people” policies.
In a joint statement issued on Sunday, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India, the All India Forward Bloc and the Revolutionary Socialist Party of India alleged that the steep hike in petrol price immediately after the Assembly polls was “politically motivated.”
“Since January 2011 [when global crude prices went up], no increase in petrol price was announced by the oil companies. Obviously, the government directed them not to do so in view of the Assembly elections in five States,” the statement said. Signed by general secretaries of the CPI(M), CPI and AIFB Prakash Karat, A.B. Bardhan and Debabrata Biswas respectively and RSP secretary Abani Roy, it said the government has given another “cruel blow” to the people who were already suffering from all-round price rise.
Demanding rationalisation of the tax structure on import of crude, the leaders said, “If the cess revenue earned by the government due to rise in international crude prices is returned to the oil companies, then there would be no need to hike prices and burden the aam admi.”
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has warned that the fuel price hike would further increase inflation.
“This hike will further hit the people who are already suffering from price rise,” said BJP national vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said the government that harped on being with the ‘aam admi' was continuously betraying the people. “This is a joke on people.” The BJP has decided to organise protests here and in other States on Monday.
Regional parties like the Samajwadi Party on Sunday organised demonstrations in various cities of Uttar Pradesh.
Atiq Khan reports from Lucknow:
Describing the petrol price hike as an “anti-people” measure, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said a daylong demonstration would be held by the BSP at all the 72 district headquarters on May 31.
Keywords: Petrol price hike, deregulation policy, UPA, Left parties
It is perhaps series of first of bold decision by Government of India
to increase price of petrol to recaliberate pro-middle class policy to
spur and accelerate inclusive economic growth.
I believe India ranks among the highest petrol pricing countries in the world. However, despite the fact that price hikes hit consumers, it rarely hits demand for it. Otherwise, we wouldn't be seeing the steady increase in car sales over the years, nor the push for Nano, a conception of an affordable car for all. We have grown addicted to oil, and this is not encouraging considering that it is no speculation that oil can possibly dry up very well within this century. While people should be thinking about cutting back on this addiction, the government should be thinking ahead for alternatives, particularly in cleaner, sustainable energy, an area that should be heavily invested in. Moreover, this will draw a distinction in its path to industrialization and prosperity from earlier countries in the last two centuries and even from China. While it is not desirable to have oil become a prohibitive product for consumers, nor should development (which drives the demand for oil) continue to be ecological forfeitures. Currently, India's growth is fueled by development, which is in turn partly fueled by gas and other conventional, non-sustainable forms of energy that is detrimental to the sustainability of life on earth. Perhaps, production and consumption (which together makes up the current development growth) can come in other forms: cleaner, wiser, and everlasting.
Nothing is for free. Government and opposition is using issue of price rise to their benefits. Government was waiting till elections were over and hence theres is a sudden spurt in petrol prices, whereas opposition is beating the drum of increases. The best solution is to reduce consumption and prices will be automatically lowered. People must understand supply and demand theory. When onion prices shot thru the roof, we stopped using them and saved the money. Now we are enjoying onions again. Of course petrol is different thing, but we can reduce the usage for sure.
Does our government even care about its people? In China petrol prices are half the price of what they are in India now. India is not a High Income country, Government must also give directions how to increase the earnings so that we can afford that fuel. Even in the United States of America Petrol is less than half the price of what is sold in India. No parallels, no Comparisons. Government do not care about middle class.
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