Fuel price hike

The recent price hike on petrol, diesel, kerosene and domestic gas drew flak from a large section of people while the political parties are gearing up their cadre to take up an agitation with a demand for withdrawal of its decision.

In addition to the base price announced by the Centre, excise duty, education cess, value-added tax and transport cost will be added which comes upto Re 1 per litre on petrol and diesel in the hike. The Centre’s announcement to decontrol petrol and make its price mechanism market-driven and making efforts to bring diesel also into the same fold subsequently caused concern to the people.

However, its statement to continue to provide subsidy to kerosene and LPG gives some relief. The rise in prices of fuels will be having its own impact as the prices of essential commodities and transportation costs will escalate. The common people will be facing the brunt of the price rise as it causes a dent in their monthly budget to run their households once the rise in prices become effective.

At least the Centre should have given exemption for kerosene and domestic gas from the price rise as they are being used by the common people.

Meanwhile, political parties are getting ready to take up agitations to bring pressure on the Centre to rollback the rise in prices of fuels and the domestic gas. BJP state general secretary Somu Veerraju said, “There should be a national policy on fixing price of fuels. The Congress-led UPA government should call for an all-party meet and take a decision amicable to all on rice in prices of fuels. Moreover, rising prices of fuels based on international crude oil rate is not a permanent solution. The Centre should also consider mixing ethanol to some proportion in petrol and diesel to give some relief in their prices.”

Praja Rajyam district convenor Jyothula Nehru said, “It is very unfortunate that the prices of fuels are being hiked for the second time at a short interval. The rise in prices of fuels affects everyone. We are going to take up stir at divisional headquarters on Saturday and are going to stall distric review committee meet at Kakinada to bring pressure on the government.” Telugu Desam state organising secretary Ganni Krishna said, “We are taking up agitations demanding the Centre to rollback the jacked up prices immediately.”