Fuel price hike imperilling common people: CPI
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 29 2022:
Communist Party of India (CPI) has said that hike of petrol and diesel prices to around Rs 4.80 per litre in a span of eight days by Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government has put additional burden to the daily struggle of survival of the common people.
Common people are still struggling to get jobs and their earnings have significantly reduced due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Amidst this situation, PM Modi led NDA government has hiked prices of petrol and diesel seven times within eight days and this indeed is continuation of the present government's anti-people and anti poor policy, a CPI statement said.
According to the statement, the ongoing budget session of Parliament is unable to pass important Bills due to disturbance in the House after sudden hike of petrol and diesel prices.
Even though relevant ministers in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have cited 34 day old Russia-Ukraine war as reason for sudden hike in petroleum prices, CPI is not impressed with the government's claim as India's crude oil import from Russia comprises only around five percent.
It also said that ruling party is still reluctant to have a fair debate in the budget session of Parliament on hike of petroleum prices even though the government collected Rs 26 lakh crore from the people in different oil taxes.
Though the speaker gave approval for discussion on the matter in the House, ruling MPs are trying to muzzle voices of Opposition members by disrupting discussion and this indeed is violation of democratic principle, the CPI statement said, while adding that prices of other goods will increase as an effect of hiking prices of petroleum products.
While demanding reduction of excise tax on petroleum products as also VAT by state governments, the CPI warned that the party is preparing to launch intense forms of agitation in coordination with the people if the government fails to reduce excise and VAT taxes.