As though the present rate of inflation is not enough, the government has increased the prices of petroleum products. The common man's back is already broken, thanks to the high cost of food and essential products. Green peas are selling at Rs.100 a kg, ash gourd at Rs.30, French beans at Rs.100, tomatoes at Rs.40, and arbi at Rs.50. Prices of fruits and cereals have also shot up. The prices of all essential commodities will increase due to a rise in the transportation costs. For senior citizens, life has become unbearable as they have no source of income and the interest rates on bank deposits have come down.
S. Narayan,
Mumbai
Food prices have already gone up. The summer months are unlikely to bring them down. The common man, for whom the so-called high growth rate has little significance, is bound to be affected badly by the fuel price hike.
Prem Kumar Gutty,
New Delhi
The rise in the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG (cooking gas) is the result of the government's inefficiency. The annual budget has lost its importance as prices go up any time during the fiscal year. The aam aadmi has to pay through his nose for the government's follies and failures. Hiking the prices is the easiest method to cover up losses and deficit.
S.P. Sharma,
Mumbai
The hike has come at a time when the prices of groceries and vegetables are on the upward spiral. This is the time to remember and appreciate the role of the left parties in the earlier UPA regime.
S. Ramgopal,
Puducherry
The increase in the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG will have a cascading effect. It will result in the prices of all essential commodities going up. With the rate of inflation already high, the decision to increase the prices of petroleum products will add to the misery of the common man.
S. Murali,
Vellore
The much-delayed and long impending fuel price hike has finally been effected by the government and greeted with the usual criticism by the Opposition parties. While the government-administered prices for kerosene, diesel and LPG are justified to some extent, a subsidised price for petrol is not justified since it only encourages the indiscriminate use of private transport vehicles resulting in manifold increase in the demand for crude oil. The price of petrol should be in accordance with international market price which will encourage public transport and reduce India's import bill.
G.S. Kumar,
Chennai
