The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Price hike

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 22, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Price hike

The Government may have valid reasons for hiking the prices of petrol and diesel. But the common man cannot take this kind of pressure from time to time. It is for the Government to protect the interests of the people by taking suitable measures to arrest the cascading effect of the rising global prices of petroleum.

K. Govinda Bhat,
Edathala, Kerala

* * *

The abnormal hike of Rs.2.50 and Rs.2 a litre of petrol and diesel will hit the middle class badly. It is sure to push up the prices of all other essential commodities.

Soundara Subramanian,
Paramakudi, T.N.

* * *

The steep increase, throwing the household budgets of middle and lower income groups into disarray, is unwarranted. Let us hope the Left's pressure tactics will force the Government to roll back the decision. The hike has also come at an inopportune time — when a poor monsoon is set to break the back of farmers.

Gromine George,
Thiruvananthapuram

* * *

When the Government did away with the administered pricing mechanism, everyone thought water would find its level. But the major chunk of the money we pay for fuel goes into Government coffers. There should be a mechanism by which taxes and duties are pegged at a particular value per litre rather than on a percentage of prices.

Kamil Mohammed,
Aluva, Kerala

* * *

The unexpected hike is shocking. The proposed protest by the Left parties is an eyewash. Looks like the Government has effected the larger-than-expected hike only to reduce it after the Left's demonstration on June 28.

N. Mahadevan,
Chennai

* * *

The international oil price hike and the financial burden on the oil companies forced the Government to increase the prices. Criticism of the decision and the call for a nationwide protest are unfortunate. It shows no party in India is responsible.

Baqr Ali,
Chennai

* * *

The hike will make life miserable for the common man, who is already struggling to make both ends meet. The oil companies always think of their profits and business interests. But an elected Government should factor in the impact of such a steep hike on the millions of poor in the country. It should respect the public mood and roll back the prices, taking into consideration the alternative suggestions made by the Left parties.

N.K. Vijayan,
Kizhakkambalam, Kerala

* * *

The Government's reasoning for the hike is that it will "partly offset" the rise in global oil prices and increase in duties. The ONGC alone has made a net profit of Rs.12,983 crore in 2004-05 and announced 200 per cent final dividend taking the total dividend to 400 per cent.

What is the logic behind burdening the people and enabling oil-manufacturing companies to make huge profits? The Left parties are party to the move and cannot escape responsibility by calling for a protest demonstration.

K. Sasidharan,
Thiruvananthapuram

* * *

Frequent hikes in the prices of petrol and diesel will have an adverse impact on the transport sector that will ultimately burden the common man. The Central and State Governments should take appropriate steps to reduce customs duty, sales tax and Central excise to bring down the prices. It is time the Left parties had a rethink on their decision to support the UPA Government.

Yateesh Parikshit,
Guntur, A.P.

* * *

Many middle-class people depend on two-wheelers as their chief mode of transport. When there is no increase in the salaries of middle-income households, such increase in prices affects day-to-day living. The latest move is sure to affect the prices of vegetables and the fares of autorickshaws and buses, patronised by the lower- and middle-classes.

P.B. Sundar,
Hyderabad

* * *

The Left continues to support the UPA Government despite its decision to increase the prices of fuel, and to disinvest in BHEL, the leader of the `communal' BJP calls Jinnah secular, and the RSS chief praises Indira Gandhi. I am thoroughly confused.

P.A. Huq,
Coimbatore

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