Cong will not commit harakiri by raising fuel prices: Left

Ruling-out any possibility to increase domestic fuel prices in the respect of sky-rocketing crude-oil prices in the international market, the Left parties have cautioned the government against committing “suicide” on this issue.

New Delhi: Ruling-out any possibility to increase domestic fuel prices in the respect of sky-rocketing crude-oil prices in the international market, the Left parties have cautioned the government against committing “suicide” on this issue. General secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Prakash Karat after a meeting of its constituents- Communist Party of India, All India Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist Party- in the Capital today said that there was no need to increase fuel prices and government should adhere to other measures to nullify the pressure of galloping crude oil prices.

“We will not permit any more increase in fuel prices. It would worsen the ongoing inflationary scenario. Government should further cut import and custom duties to manage fuel prices. I think the Congress will not commit harakiri by raising prices (of petrol and diesel),” said Karat who was accompanied by A B Bardhan of CPM, A Raja of CPI and Abny Roi of RSP. He also added that it is the only durable solution in the era of high international oil prices. The comment has come amid speculations of fuel price hike.

Commenting of the performance of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, which has just completed its four years in power with the crucial support of the Left, A B Bardhan said that it had failed to check the rise in the prices of essential commodities.
“The government has presented its report-card on completing of four-years in power. We are highlighting some extremely crucial issues. The most important is price rise. We think the neoliberal policies pursued by the government have led to this situation. We also think that without universalising and strengthening the public distribution system and proper procurement of food-grains, inflation cannot be checked. And without doing that the food security cannot be ensured,” said Bardhan.

He also called for overhauling the existing targeted PDS and termed it as complete failure. He also demanded complete prohibition of future trading in 25 agricultural commodities as recommended by the Standing Committee. Left parties also expressed their apprehension on the effects the reducing cement and steel prices would able to generate on the rampaging inflation.
Left parties also questioned the way of functioning of the Planning Commission, especially its deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia which, they said “is working like a super cabinet”. Bardhan said: “The UPA had given a firm commitment to Left parties that the 35 non-metro airports would be modrnised by the Airports Authority of India when the government decided to go ahead with the privatisation of the Delhi and Mumbai airports. Now, the Planning Commission is seeking to subvert this decision by pushing for private participation in the commercial operations and maintenance.”

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