Karnataka - Mysore   

Protest against increase in fuel prices

By Our Staff Correspondent

Activists of the Federation of Labour Organisations taking out a procession in protest against the increase in fuel prices, in Mysore on Wednesday.

MYSORE, NOV. 24. Activists of various labour organisations took out a procession here on Wednesday in protest against the increase in the prices of petroleum products. Organised by the Federation of Labour Organisations, nearly 150 activists started the procession from Town Hall.

They staged a demonstration at KR Circle before going to the Deputy Commissioner's office, where a memorandum was submitted.

The activists belonging to different labour organisations carried banners criticising the increase in fuel prices.

After the erstwhile BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government empowered the public-sector petroleum companies to fix the price of petroleum products, which led to an unchecked and frequent upward revision of prices, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) was treading on the same path, the activists regretted.

Poor, middleclass hit

The increase in the prices of petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) had wrought misery on the poor and middleclass people in the country.

The activists contended that the reasons attributed for the increase in the prices of petroleum products by the Union Government were "irrelevant and unscientific''. The Centre's contention that the increase in the prices of petroleum products was because of the increase in prices of crude oil in the international market was false. The prices were increased when the price of crude oil had begun a downward slide from a high of 55 dollars a barrel, the activists said.

The decision was "unbecoming'' of a responsible Government. "Instead of finding a solution to the increasing prices of petrol, the Government has chosen to pass the burden onto the common man,'' the activists said.

Cascading effect

The Government could have prevented this burden from being passed onto the common man by reducing the customs and excise duty imposed on imported crude oil, they said.

Also, the public sector oil companies, which had made several crores of rupees profit in the last couple of months, could have been prevailed upon to "sacrifice" a portion of their profits.

The increase in the prices of petrol and diesel had led to an increase in the cost of transportation and it had a cascading effect on the economy of the country.

The activists criticised the Union Government for not sparing LPG the price of which would go up at Rs. 5 a month. "It is a lethal blow to the poor and middleclass people who are struggling to make their ends meet,'' they said and pointed out at the absence of political will to explore the possibilities for resource mobilisation.

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